We have been doing an audit of offences. You may be surprised to hear me say that freedom and it's inappropriate use is the number one cause of offence. Look at this from Romans.

"for we don’t live for ourselves or die for ourselves.

 - Romans 14:7 (NLT)

That statement falls in the middle of a common debate about freedom and it's practice. The issue was whether they should eat meat that may have been offered to idols. Long story short, Paul basically tells them that this is a matter of conscience and don’t use your freedom to offend another one’s conscience. He further identified this is an act of immaturity which is synonymous with an immature love. Freedom as a value must serve the higher value of love, Jesus was free not to come, but He came and curbed His freedom for loves sake!

Listen to this:

"For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: love your neighbour as yourself. But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another."

 - Galatians. 5:13-15 (NLT)

The power to build and destroy is in every relationship we have, whether it lasts 10 seconds at a cashiers till or 50 years in a marriage, and it all is going to come around to how we manage freedom to serve love! The beginning of a more mature love in anything deals with the management of our freedoms and the quality of service that is sure to come from that management!

Question: Which value is leading your life: freedom or love?

Meditation: In your life, which relationships are needing a better quality of management of freedom?