What Does It Mean To Be Free?
Personal, daily freedom is not generally experienced. I’m not talking about the freedoms that national values give us. Or the eternal freedom that religion can offer. I’m talking about freedom on Monday or Tuesday. Most people are not experiencing freedom on any particular day of the week because that day feels full of “I have to’s”, and freedom to them should feel full of “I get to’s”. This is why the proverbial Saturday or the season of retirement has become almost idolized, because they feel like the only times we get to cast off the “I have to’s” of life. But is that how it should be? When Jesus said, ‘Cast all your cares on me,’ or Paul said, ‘For freedom we have been set free,’ were they only talking about Saturdays, retirement, and eternity? I don’t think so. The other day, I mentioned to a client that the core of what I do is help people live in freedom. He paused, thought about it, and said something to the effect that although he had never put it together, that had been what every session over the past couple of years had been about. Sure, we may have talked about employee management or limiting beliefs, but fundamentally, working with me was about walking in freedom.
So what keeps us from freedom? Ironically, it’s the decisions that we make to achieve more independence. Here are just a few examples:
Becoming the boss frees me from being told what to do, but also burdens me with weightier responsibilities.
Taking a car loan frees me from an old beater that might break down, but it binds me to a loan that requires a certain limit on my salary, which might keep me in a job that I hate going to every day.
Keeping a demanding schedule ties my hands from being present with people.
Keeping a free schedule feels unproductive or creates a life driven by the whims of others.
None of these choices is morally wrong or even unhelpful. Some of them are wise given the right time and circumstance. The choices are not what fundamentally keep us from freedom. It’s the lie. The lie that says do this, buy that, go here, support this, believe that, and you will have the freedom you always wanted. The truth is that every choice has a cost. Freedom is about understanding the cost and making the decision with eyes wide open. So when I have to put in the extra hours to pay for the new vehicle, I don’t say, “I have to work today.” Rather, I say something to the effect of, “Today I have the choice to work more hours to afford my vehicle, or I can sell my vehicle for something more economical and take the day off, but it’s my choice.” Freedom is about having the choice. What keeps us from choice is discontentment. If I can’t be content with an older vehicle, I will never be free … and the newer vehicle will always control my life. But if I can be content with an older vehicle and I can also be content with working overtime, then I am truly free to make the decision I want. I can take the promotion or leave it, fill my days with responsibilities, or take a day off.
Don’t seek freedom. The world plays that game better than you and will always offer you freedom with one hand while binding your wrists with the other. Choices motivated by freedom tend to lead to more bondage. Choices motivated by values and belief systems are the ones that lead to freedom. But when we don’t choose those, it’s because we don’t know how to be content with the cost of such choices. What’s the cost of more time with my family, a meaningful career, loyal relationships, being the boss, or just the employee? Instead of seeking freedom, learn what it means to be content. When contentment is your passion, freedom becomes your lifestyle.
So what keeps us from freedom? Ironically, it’s the decisions that we make to achieve more independence. Here are just a few examples:
Becoming the boss frees me from being told what to do, but also burdens me with weightier responsibilities.
Taking a car loan frees me from an old beater that might break down, but it binds me to a loan that requires a certain limit on my salary, which might keep me in a job that I hate going to every day.
Keeping a demanding schedule ties my hands from being present with people.
Keeping a free schedule feels unproductive or creates a life driven by the whims of others.
None of these choices is morally wrong or even unhelpful. Some of them are wise given the right time and circumstance. The choices are not what fundamentally keep us from freedom. It’s the lie. The lie that says do this, buy that, go here, support this, believe that, and you will have the freedom you always wanted. The truth is that every choice has a cost. Freedom is about understanding the cost and making the decision with eyes wide open. So when I have to put in the extra hours to pay for the new vehicle, I don’t say, “I have to work today.” Rather, I say something to the effect of, “Today I have the choice to work more hours to afford my vehicle, or I can sell my vehicle for something more economical and take the day off, but it’s my choice.” Freedom is about having the choice. What keeps us from choice is discontentment. If I can’t be content with an older vehicle, I will never be free … and the newer vehicle will always control my life. But if I can be content with an older vehicle and I can also be content with working overtime, then I am truly free to make the decision I want. I can take the promotion or leave it, fill my days with responsibilities, or take a day off.
Don’t seek freedom. The world plays that game better than you and will always offer you freedom with one hand while binding your wrists with the other. Choices motivated by freedom tend to lead to more bondage. Choices motivated by values and belief systems are the ones that lead to freedom. But when we don’t choose those, it’s because we don’t know how to be content with the cost of such choices. What’s the cost of more time with my family, a meaningful career, loyal relationships, being the boss, or just the employee? Instead of seeking freedom, learn what it means to be content. When contentment is your passion, freedom becomes your lifestyle.