(See parallel references: Matt. 6:24; John 8:34; 2 Pet. 2:19). In our lives here on earth we all serve something or someone. Nay, we are all slaves to something John 8:34 or someone. You say, “How can this be? There hasn't been anyone enslaved in this country for over 130 years!” This present world is filled with slaves in to many different things. Historians, philoso­phers, and political activists all tell us that any number of forces control us, as individuals and as a society. Per­haps the most formidable spectre that faces us in modern times, in the minds of many, is the slavery to our material goods and comforts. Some say that an economic system based upon theories of capitalism makes us slaves to our wages, unable to realise economic in­dependence because of our depend­ence upon an employer to pay us. So­cial critics for years have been in­creasingly alarmed at our society's re­liance upon technology; they fear the day when the machines which man created will rule over him.

Each of these theories is problematic in the sense that they fail to identify the real root cause of servitude in our lives. Paul, in Romans 6: 16, sets forth the issue in a very clear fashion: 'Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his ser­vants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto , or of obedi­ence unto righteousness?' Here is a very succinct whole; let us examine it in its parts.

“to whom ye yield yourselves ser­vants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey ...” You are the slave of the person, thing, or idea that you obey. If we are consumed by our ca­reer to the neglect of other things then, clearly, we are slaves to our work. If we seek our entertainment and edifi­cation by watching television or browsing the internet, then we are slaves to those things. Whatever is first in our lives is our master, and we are its slaves. This is especially tragic for a Christian if the first thing in his life is not God. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin” (John 8:34 ). Thus, anything that is first in our life other than God, whether or not it is inherently evil, is an hindrance to our service to God. An occupation, hobby, or anything else that subtracts our time and energy from the service of our Lord is unacceptable to God be­cause it is not done in spirit and in truth, and most certainly is not with our whole heart.

“whether of sin unto , or of obedience unto righteousness?” The choice as to whom to serve is set forth very plainly by Paul. Those things that we serve which lead us into sin (i.e. not serving God) inevitably lead to death. Jesus said, in Matthew 6:24, “No man can serve two masters; for either he will the one and love the other; or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” We cannot claim to be of Christ and yet not put Christ first in our lives. Only complete obe­dience to him will justify us in the end (Romans 16:26 ; Hebrews 5:9). It is for this reason that Paul, in the final clause of this verse ( 6: 16 ), not only tells us that we have a choice but he also emphasises that we not forget the result of our choice. Too often, man ignores the results of his sin because it seems to him a distant and removed thing. Often, we are not immediately punished for the sin that we commit. But Paul would not have us to ignore the consequences. To ensure that we do not forget, he spends the rest of Romans six discussing the conse­quences of our choices. “For the wages of sin is ; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23 ). So, really the choice is not about sin or obedience but is about eternal life or eternal (something for more serious than physical , to be sure). Moses Lard, in his Commentary on Romans, says this: “Within itself it is wrong to sin; but in the light of its re­sults, it is appalling. You cannot af­ford to serve it.”

The choice to serve sin is a dangerous one, but unfortunately an all too easy one. Let us choose to serve God and look forward to eternity with him as our reward. “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you” (James 4:7-8). - Chris Cotten

 

 

 

Heard it on the news the other day; another "dumb crook" story. Seems as if a young man, on a day when the temperature soared to above 100 % grees, decided to hold up a bank. Ran out of the bank, drove aways, then got in the trunk of his car to change his clothes - and got locked in! Along about the time he was getting to be "medium rare," someone heard him hollering to let him out. Probably the only time in his life he was glad to see a cop!

That little exercise in futility is a lot like people as they go through life without regard to their spiritual life, and the consequences for not doing the right thing. Most seem to think they are "getting away" with whatever it is they have done, and there will not come a day of reckoning. But - sure as the world, "their sins will find them out," because they cannot hide them from God.

There are a couple things different in the two however. First, God's place of punishment is a lot hotter than the trunk of a car, and secondly, there will be no one to let you out. Just ask the rich man as recorded in Luke sixteen! Best thing is not to get in such a mess in the first place! - Bill Moseley