August 16 - 1 Corinthians 10:14-11:2 - Freedom and Responsibility

I have a crazy suggestion. Let’s add another sense to the Five Senses. No, seriously, I’m not talking about some mystic sense or a sense of humor. It just seems to me that our sense of balance qualifies as a genuine sense. Senses assess and deliver stimulus input from our environment through specialized body parts. Eyes give visual input, ears give auditory input. Nose, tongue, and skin tell us about our surroundings. Why wouldn’t specialized semi-circular canals in our inner ear that give us balance input, and could give us that input independently of all the other senses, be considered a sixth sense? I’d love to get your feedback on that.

Staying balanced in thought and action are as important as staying balanced on foot. Paul lived in a culture that was very much like ours; it placed an inordinate amount of value on freedom. He appears to be quoting his contemporaries when he repeats, “Everything is permissible … everything is permissible.” People who think everything is permissible will do whatever they want. But, freedom that isn’t balanced by responsibility would result in lawlessness and chaos. Responsibility without freedom is slavery. Freedom without responsibility is anarchy. Balance is what’s necessary. Freedom speaks mostly to individuality; to the “I.” Responsibility speaks to community; to the “We.” Something may be permissible, but is it beneficial? Is it constructive? Does it take into account the good of others?

Paul refers to the connection we have with Christ and with one another through sharing the Lord’s Supper. The Supper reminds us that our personal rights and freedoms are not the highest values. Participating with God and with our fellow man is even more precious. “Do all to the glory of God,” Paul urges. “Seek the good of others that they may be saved,” he instructs.  Use your freedom in responsible ways; ways that bless. The people who obsess in freedom are only interested in blessing themselves.

Pray: Unlimited, all-powerful God, help us realize that you put on self-limitations when you came to walk among us as Jesus. You reined in your freedom to act for the good of others. You could have been hunger and thirst free, insult and pain free. But you forfeited those freedoms to save my soul. Help me to balance my freedoms with Christian responsibility. Help me to glorify you in all things, and to do good to all people, even if it means giving up some of my personal freedom.