Author: Ian-Hein Staal.
When God created man, He gave him something very precious. Man received free will, so that he himself could voluntarily make his choices.
The Fall came because man used his free will to listen to satan. But with that same free will, the path to salvation by Jesus Christ was paved.
What man sows, so he reaps
God, who has all power and all wisdom, has given every person free will, which He respects within the limits of His laws. Free will does not mean that a person can do anything, without the fact that there will be consequences; because we are responsible for our choice. It is a voluntary work that we sow, but the harvest, the consequences, are not voluntary.
“… what a man sows, this he will also reap: he who sows to his flesh from the flesh will reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” Gal. 6.7-8.
Respect the free will of others
Just as God respects our free will, so we must respect the free will of others. Does this mean that we are not responsible for other people? Of course we are responsible.
For example, when our children are minors, then parents cannot think like this: “Children have free will. Everything that children do, they must do voluntarily. ”
After all, parents have their own responsibility when it comes to raising children. But the older the children get, the more there must be a healthy balance between the free will of children and the responsibility for parenting. There is a lot to learn here: – so as not to dominate your children. Don’t annoy them. Don’t make them your copy. – No, we must be an example for children, carry them in our hearts and pray for them! We must have contact with them and put understanding into them instead of giving them many rules.
Paul as an example
The same is the case where we communicate with other people. And in this regard, it is edifying to read about how Paul addressed Philemon in the situation with the servant Onesimus, who repented in Rome.
“Therefore, having great boldness in Christ to command you what you must, for love, I better ask, none other than me, the Elder Paul, and now a prisoner of Jesus Christ;” Flm. 1: 8-9.
And further in verse 14 he says: “But without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your good deed would not be forced, but voluntarily.” Flm. 1:14.
Volunteer to work
Also, when it comes to what we give and serve in the Church, it is very important to respect each other’s free will. Thus, wisdom can teach us these good laws for communicating with one another. On the one hand, never dominate others, do not reproach or demand anything from them. And at the same time carry each other in their hearts, pray for them, inspire and exhort each other.
The intent is for just more people to come into God’s will with all of their free will. Based on this, love for Christ leads us into the perfect law of freedom. So that we have a desire to serve and bless our neighbors. Voluntarily, with all heart and with joy.
Source: https://aktivnoyekhristianstvo.ru/svobodnaya-volya-cheloveka