Tag: Biblical Wisdom

You’re Gonna Have To Serve Somebody

Romans 6:15–23 confronts us with a profound truth: we all serve something or someone. As Bob Dylan famously sang, “You’re gonna have to serve somebody.” The question is not whether you’ll be a servant but what kind of master you’ll serve. Paul lays it out plainly: we are either slaves to sin, which leads to death, or slaves to righteousness, which leads to eternal life.

Sin often masquerades as freedom. It promises autonomy and the thrill of doing things “your way.” But in reality, it’s a cruel master. It gives the illusion of control while driving us toward destruction. Like a ship without a rudder, a life given over to sin doesn’t sail freely; it drifts toward the rocks. What seems like liberty in the moment chains us to habits, guilt, and the eternal consequence of separation from God.

On the other hand, serving Christ involves discipline and self-denial. This might sound unappealing at first, but consider what Paul means. Being a slave to righteousness is about rejecting the impulses of the flesh—denying sin’s hold on our lives—and living in obedience to God. It’s not an oppressive bondage; it’s a life of freedom to become who God created us to be. In Christ, discipline is not punishment but training for joy, peace, and eternal life.

Think about your daily choices. Every decision either aligns you closer with sin or with Christ. Sin leads to fleeting pleasure but lasting regret. Following Christ calls for self-denial in the moment, but the rewards are eternal: joy, peace, and the unshakable hope of life with Him. Which master are you choosing today?

Paul concludes this passage with the ultimate contrast: “For the payoff of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23, NET). Choosing to serve sin is like walking off a cliff blindfolded, believing you’re in control all the way down. Serving Christ, by contrast, is walking a narrow path that leads to life.

So, whose servant are you? Are you giving your life to a master that takes everything and leaves you empty, or to the One who gave everything to make you whole? The choice is clear, but the stakes are eternal. Don’t settle for the illusion of control—choose the freedom of life in Christ.

Defeat as Discipline

In today’s readings, we encounter a challenging truth: not every obstacle or hardship is meant to be overcome. Sometimes, the “bad things” that happen to us are actually God’s way of protecting or disciplining us.

Ezekiel 3:20 (NLT) presents a sobering warning: “If righteous people turn away from their righteous behavior and ignore the obstacles I put in their way, they will die. And if you do not warn them, they will die in their sins. None of their righteous acts will be remembered, and I will hold you responsible for their deaths.” Here, God emphasizes that even the righteous are not exempt from discipline. If they turn away from their righteousness, God may place obstacles in their path, not to be overcome, but as a form of discipline.

In Jeremiah 28, the false prophet Hananiah tells the people of Judah that God will break the yoke of Babylon and free them within two years. However, Jeremiah counters this by saying that their captivity is God’s will and must be endured. Hananiah’s false prophecy leads to his death, underscoring the severity of trying to escape or misrepresent God’s discipline.

These passages remind us that not every challenge is meant to be overcome. Sometimes, what we perceive as obstacles are actually God’s protective hand or corrective discipline at work. When we try to “escape” these challenges, we might miss the lesson or the protection God intends for us.

Rather than rushing to overcome every difficulty, we need to ask ourselves: Is this obstacle God’s way of protecting me? Is this hardship His discipline? Trusting in God’s plan, even when it involves discomfort, can lead to greater growth and alignment with His will.