Scripture

Romans 8:14-15 NIV

We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.

Consider

As much as we like to think we are in charge of our choices, we can all admit to times when we felt compelled to act in particular ways, perhaps against our will or better judgment. We may have reacted without thinking or followed a wrong path out of fear or habit. We may have hurt others or ruined a relationship for reasons we can’t explain. In the end we could only shake our heads and offer by way of excuse, “What else could I do? I had no choice.”

Being without choice is the same as being a slave. When sinful nature holds sway over our behavior, Paul says we are slaves to it. Even Paul himself suffered slavery to sin as he describes wanting to please God and do what is right but finding himself doing the opposite, as if he had no choice: “For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing” (Romans 7:19).

On the other hand, an Old Testament story tells of Balak, king of Moab, who was so afraid of the Israelites that he summoned the prophet Balaam to pronounce a curse on them. Despite great rewards promised to Balaam, however, on three separate occasions Balaam could only pronounce God’s blessing on the Israelites. In the end he told King Balak that even if he were given a palace filled with silver and gold, he would be powerless to do anything against the Lord’s will or to speak anything other than what the Lord had given him to say.

Balaam was pronouncing himself a slave of God. He had no choice, he said, but to obey the Lord who was his master.

There is nothing wrong or shameful about being a slave. In fact, God designed us to perfectly fit the role of a slave in service to the King. That’s why we feel most complete and at peace when we are fully surrendered to God and to the work God has prepared for us to do. Conversely, we feel most at odds with ourselves, confused and discontented, when we allow other gods to enslave us and direct us away from God.

Because we were created to serve, we will find ourselves enslaved to one master or another, despite our best efforts to resist control. Our choice thus becomes not whether we will serve but whom.

Pray

O Lord my God, I thank you for the raw honesty of Scripture. Paul’s struggle against the lures of sin encourages me because you used Paul in your great work despite his weakness and divided attentions. Use me as well, I pray. Help me to choose you over other gods when I am facing daily decisions. Make me like Balaam, powerless to disobey your Word or your will.

Reflect

Numbers 24:12-13; Joshua 24:15; Ephesians 6:6

Ponder

How does my enslavement to sin show up in my relationships?