One of the most enjoyable parts of being on a remote vacation is the absence of regular schedules and everyday responsibilities—no alarm, no traffic and no boss. The freedom to spend your time any way you like can be a source of genuine refreshment. It’s the retirement life that people chase their entire professional lives. As delightful as that kind of autonomy sounds, it’s only good in small doses.
I know someone who gained an inheritance from her father. Through a life of hard work and wise investment, he had earned millions of dollars that, at his death, was passed down to her. She had acquired so much wealth that she would not have to work a day in her life. One mark of her affluence was the overpriced, garish décor that filled her house. It was evident that she made no effort to leave any impulsive ideas unfunded.
Sadly, her life of “freedom” was anything but fulfilling. Her marriage was on the rocks, and her children were involved in pursuits to shameful to mention here. Hers is but one of many heartbreaking tales of those whose excess freedom resulted in misery. Just as no one ends up happy in a child-centered home, so it is in the house of a spoiled adult.
While it’s easy to criticize the rich and the spoiled, the reality is that none of us are any good when there aren’t boundaries. It’s exactly what preceded the rampant wickedness of the Jews recorded in Judges. According to Judges 21:25, “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” The absence of someone keeping the peace or, more specifically, maintaining spiritual order, was widespread sin. It’s the natural consequence to excess freedom.
This raises an interesting question. What is your attitude about God’s law? To what degree do you submit to His rule over your life? In your prayers do you repeat the words of the psalmist that says, “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law” (Ps. 119:18), or are your eyes searching for loopholes? Do you pray, “I find my delight in Your commandments, which I love” (Ps. 119:47), or do you find biblical standards restrictive and unpleasant?
The world characterizes the so-called “good life” as one with unqualified freedom—freedom from rules, freedom boundaries, freedom from answering to anyone, freedom from being told no. That is fool’s gold. That kind of freedom is only free of lasting hope. True freedom is found in the restraining, protective and yes, corrective laws of the Lord.
And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by Him. For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and chastises every son whom He receives.” It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? (Heb. 12:5–7)
Scripture consistently presents these as two opposing options. Proverbs 12:1, “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.” In Hosea 4:6, those that rejected the knowledge of God were, in turn, rejected by God. Through the prophet, God said, “And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.” Again, the Lord warns in Proverbs 29:18, “Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law.”
Do not long for freedom from rules, restraints or even correction. There is an eternity of freedom from sorrow and sighing that waits the true child of God. In the meantime, store up His Word in your heart, that you might not sin against Him. Delight in His statues. Do not despise His discipline or be weary of His reproof. It’s there that you’ll find The Good Life.
It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes. The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces (Psalm 119:71–72)