Freedom Rules

      By Fern Horst

"I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me. A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person. Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer. Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me. He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight." (Psalm 101:3-7)

Freedom as singles takes many forms. We have freedom to choose what we do with our time and resources without always needing to consult someone else. As with most things, this freedom has its positive and negative aspects. We have the opportunity to serve the Lord in many different ways with our freedom, but we can also more easily fall prey to temptations to squander our time and resources. Worse yet, without anyone to account to for these things, we may spend our time and resources on people and activities that are counterproductive and even detrimental to our spiritual well-being.

It's good to have guidelines for handling our opportunities and freedoms so that we don't squander them, but rather use them to be productive. If we adopt the resolutions of the Psalmist in Psalm 101, we will be well on our way to making right choices:

1. "I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me." - I will not read or view those things which are ungodly. If a person in the book or on the TV is doing something which is wrong and it is portrayed in a positive light, I will put the book aside or turn off the TV.
   
   
2. "I will not know a wicked person ... Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me." - I will carefully choose godly people for my inner circle. If a person I know chooses wrongdoing over righteous living, I will only relate to them as the Holy Spirit leads me to in order to bring them into right relationship with Jesus Christ.
   
   
3. "Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off ... He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight." - I will refuse to participate in conversation with those who slander and gossip about others, as well as those who are deceitful and don't tell the truth.

We may be hesitant to make such resolutions, fearing that we will become self-righteous and judgmental. We do need to guard against those attitudes. But these are choices we are making in obedience to God and His Word, not because we are superior to anyone else, nor because we are standing in judgment of them. We must let God judge a person's heart, while at the same time learning to discern the godliness or ungodliness of a person's persistent and habitual actions.

When we make efforts to have godly people in our lives, and to choose only reading material, entertainment and activities which are uplifting and do not glorify evil, we fortify our ability to use our freedom in positive and productive ways for Christ's kingdom.

Take some time to look around your house at the books and magazines you read. Think about what you watched on television this week or a movie you went to recently. Review your calendar for the activities you've engaged in and the people you associated with. Do they fit the criteria of the guidelines in Psalm 101? If not, ask the Lord to guide you in correcting the areas that don't fit, and for grace and strength to continue those areas that do. I trust that you will see increasing productiveness in your life for Christ and His Kingdom.

"That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God." (Colossians 1:10)

© 2007 Fern Horst

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