FREE WILL: The Power & the Responsibility
Mankind has always had free will--there has never been a time when man didn't have the right to choose. Along with the power is also responsibility. From the beginning, man struggled with the responsibility and the repercussions of having free will. We always enjoy the rights, and the privileges, but we tend to vacillate when it comes down to the brass tacks of our responsibilities and duties. Somehow, all kinds of rationalizations and justifications arise once the issue of obligation is raised. And, it's amazing how we misuse Scripture to accomplish our goal of "building bigger barns" [Luke 12:15-18].
When God created man, He placed in the garden everything that was needed to sustain man; however once sin entered the picture, everything changed--no longer was everything readily available. Man now had to work to receive the things needed to live and thrive. Eventually, God gave His people the Law of Moses, and still, even under the Law, He always made provision for everyone. There were now those who did not have land--"Levites, widows, strangers and the fatherless". So, for these God made a provision for them to be sustained by the tithe, an agricultural sustenance that was to be collected and placed into the storehouse to care for the people in those specific categories. These were the poor of that time. Levites were unable to own land, widows, no longer had husbands, etc. There would be no elderly folk, single women or disabled people on their own and struggling, single mom's, or working poor, or divorced women left to fend for themselves simply because of the rule of the Law. Punishment regarding adultery and fornication was death. Women remained in the household of their fathers until married--if widowed, the deceased husband's family maintained an obligation to care for the young widow. In divorce, save for adultery, the husband was still obligated. Family took care of family. Everyone had land apportioned to them according to tribe, fairly and equitably, so no "working poor". But, even in the event of some catastrophe--failed crops, illness, etc. everyone was commanded to leave the corners of their fields ungleaned for those who might be in need. God always had a plan to care for everyone (He still does, we just don't follow it [Acts 4:32-35; 2 Corinthians 8:13-15])--and not just His own people, but strangers/immigrants. God loves everyone.
Did everyone follow God's plan? No. There were unjust wicked balances (Ezekiel 45:8-10). There were wicked priests who robbed the storehouse so that there was no provision for the Levite, the widow, the fatherless and the stranger (Malachi 2:1,2; 3:5-8). Corruption was plentiful (Isaiah 1:23). The Law was in place, but so was (and is) free will. Under the Law, there was no power even if there was a desire to adhere to the Law; it was only human effort and will to fight the corrupt spirit within. Human nature is powerful and greedy; it seeks to please and satisfy the desires and longings of self. It's focus is not on God or neighbors, which is why the command had to be given to love God (Deuteronomy 6:5) and to love your neighbor as yourself (Leviticus 19:18). It had to be commanded--it wouldn't come naturally to man, not with sin present, and ruling.
When grace comes by Jesus Christ, there is no change to free will. In essence, there is no change to the Law--the commandment is still the same--" Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." What changed, drastically, is the ability to keep the Law. No man can keep the Law by his own power and strength--that is the same, but the Holy Ghost within us enables us to love like Jesus, supernaturally. It is a choice, though. Free will remains in full effect, just as it always has.
Under grace, we have the power within us to live above our selfish, greedy human nature--but, we don't have to ; we won't be forced to. However, eventually our choice will have consequences--good or evil. In this dispensation, God no longer provides sustenance in the same manner as He did at Creation--He now, uses human instrumentation--it's been that way since sin entered the world. Many of us, think that God will miraculously supply food, clean drinking water, shelter, and clothing to those who are without. He doesn't drop those things out of the sky; He could, but He doesn't. He has a different plan now. That plan is to give us an opportunity to be His hands in the earth--He uses us to provide for one another. When He places substance in our hands, He places the responsibility to provide needs within our hands, along with the substance--what kind of stewards will we be? Often, we label those who suffer lack as faithless, but Scripture doesn't question the faith of the poor--it questions the faith of the rich. James states, "If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works." So, the poor person's faith isn't dead because they lack, but the person who fails to provide for them has "dead faith". In essence, God is waiting for us to prove that we have living faith by our provision for those who are in need. Lack in this world doesn't exist because there is a lack of faith (on the part of those in need) or even a lack of substance, but a lack of giving and caring for others. There are people full of faith around the world, living rich spiritual lives, tearing down strongholds of the adversary that we could not begin to fathom--being martyred for God, yet living in poverty, tangibly-speaking. While they are rich spiritually and poor tangibly; many would argue, Westernized Christians are destitute spiritually, though our pockets are overflowing. Even, Jesus had "no place to lay His head" [John 9:58] and Peter and John had nothing but the Spirit of God (to offer the lame man) as they entered the temple [Acts 3:1-6]. Riches don't make you righteous or faithful; the Spirit of God living and breathing--directing your life does that. Tangible things are no indicator of spiritual things. However, tangible giving is.
If we are going to enjoy and revel in the rights as spiritual Israel, it's time for us to take on the responsibility and stand up and be counted as givers and suppliers of need.
"But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?" [1 John 3:17]
When God created man, He placed in the garden everything that was needed to sustain man; however once sin entered the picture, everything changed--no longer was everything readily available. Man now had to work to receive the things needed to live and thrive. Eventually, God gave His people the Law of Moses, and still, even under the Law, He always made provision for everyone. There were now those who did not have land--"Levites, widows, strangers and the fatherless". So, for these God made a provision for them to be sustained by the tithe, an agricultural sustenance that was to be collected and placed into the storehouse to care for the people in those specific categories. These were the poor of that time. Levites were unable to own land, widows, no longer had husbands, etc. There would be no elderly folk, single women or disabled people on their own and struggling, single mom's, or working poor, or divorced women left to fend for themselves simply because of the rule of the Law. Punishment regarding adultery and fornication was death. Women remained in the household of their fathers until married--if widowed, the deceased husband's family maintained an obligation to care for the young widow. In divorce, save for adultery, the husband was still obligated. Family took care of family. Everyone had land apportioned to them according to tribe, fairly and equitably, so no "working poor". But, even in the event of some catastrophe--failed crops, illness, etc. everyone was commanded to leave the corners of their fields ungleaned for those who might be in need. God always had a plan to care for everyone (He still does, we just don't follow it [Acts 4:32-35; 2 Corinthians 8:13-15])--and not just His own people, but strangers/immigrants. God loves everyone.
Did everyone follow God's plan? No. There were unjust wicked balances (Ezekiel 45:8-10). There were wicked priests who robbed the storehouse so that there was no provision for the Levite, the widow, the fatherless and the stranger (Malachi 2:1,2; 3:5-8). Corruption was plentiful (Isaiah 1:23). The Law was in place, but so was (and is) free will. Under the Law, there was no power even if there was a desire to adhere to the Law; it was only human effort and will to fight the corrupt spirit within. Human nature is powerful and greedy; it seeks to please and satisfy the desires and longings of self. It's focus is not on God or neighbors, which is why the command had to be given to love God (Deuteronomy 6:5) and to love your neighbor as yourself (Leviticus 19:18). It had to be commanded--it wouldn't come naturally to man, not with sin present, and ruling.
When grace comes by Jesus Christ, there is no change to free will. In essence, there is no change to the Law--the commandment is still the same--" Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." What changed, drastically, is the ability to keep the Law. No man can keep the Law by his own power and strength--that is the same, but the Holy Ghost within us enables us to love like Jesus, supernaturally. It is a choice, though. Free will remains in full effect, just as it always has.
Under grace, we have the power within us to live above our selfish, greedy human nature--but, we don't have to ; we won't be forced to. However, eventually our choice will have consequences--good or evil. In this dispensation, God no longer provides sustenance in the same manner as He did at Creation--He now, uses human instrumentation--it's been that way since sin entered the world. Many of us, think that God will miraculously supply food, clean drinking water, shelter, and clothing to those who are without. He doesn't drop those things out of the sky; He could, but He doesn't. He has a different plan now. That plan is to give us an opportunity to be His hands in the earth--He uses us to provide for one another. When He places substance in our hands, He places the responsibility to provide needs within our hands, along with the substance--what kind of stewards will we be? Often, we label those who suffer lack as faithless, but Scripture doesn't question the faith of the poor--it questions the faith of the rich. James states, "If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works." So, the poor person's faith isn't dead because they lack, but the person who fails to provide for them has "dead faith". In essence, God is waiting for us to prove that we have living faith by our provision for those who are in need. Lack in this world doesn't exist because there is a lack of faith (on the part of those in need) or even a lack of substance, but a lack of giving and caring for others. There are people full of faith around the world, living rich spiritual lives, tearing down strongholds of the adversary that we could not begin to fathom--being martyred for God, yet living in poverty, tangibly-speaking. While they are rich spiritually and poor tangibly; many would argue, Westernized Christians are destitute spiritually, though our pockets are overflowing. Even, Jesus had "no place to lay His head" [John 9:58] and Peter and John had nothing but the Spirit of God (to offer the lame man) as they entered the temple [Acts 3:1-6]. Riches don't make you righteous or faithful; the Spirit of God living and breathing--directing your life does that. Tangible things are no indicator of spiritual things. However, tangible giving is.
If we are going to enjoy and revel in the rights as spiritual Israel, it's time for us to take on the responsibility and stand up and be counted as givers and suppliers of need.
"But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?" [1 John 3:17]
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