• Apostle Paul differentiates obedience to sin and obedience to righteousness
• It is never a pleasant experience to be addicted to things of the world
"When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of?" (Romans 6:20-21).
Frankly, in my case, I reaped nothing but destruction, disappointments and losses. From a business perspective, if I were to develop a balance sheet from all the things I used to do, the losses would far outweigh the profits.
That is usually the case for many people, although many times, we never realise it. As human beings, God created us to worship, and if we don't revere Him, then we are bound to fancy something else.
That is why you find people struggling with different addictions or idols, such as alcoholism, drugs, sex, food or money. Human beings have an innate desire to worship because it is part of our operating system.
In Romans 6:15-18, the apostle Paul differentiates between obedience to sin and obedience to righteousness in as far as their consequences are concerned.
Whereas obedience to sin leads to death, the latter leads to holiness, which is right standing with God. Furthermore, Paul clarifies in verse 16 that obedience to someone or something means we become slaves to them.
Now, imagine becoming slaves to the things of the world, such as alcohol, drugs, women and money. Most of us are already familiar with what slavery entails, having studied about the Transatlantic and Trans-Saharan slave trade in our secondary school education.
It is never a pleasant experience to be addicted or enslaved to the aforementioned things, which only bring you sorrow and strife. Such addictions not only waste your physical health away but also corrode your soul and make you feel unworthy as a human being.
Having experienced both worlds, I'd rather be addicted to Jesus. In Him, I have encountered so much joy and satisfaction of knowing you are a prized possession that is being polished each and every day into perfection in God's eyes.
I know that many people struggle with obedience to God because the desires of our flesh keep on begging to be gratified. For example, many of Jesus' disciples (John 6:60) deserted Him after He told them what they had to do to enjoy eternal life.
However, in 1 John 5:3, God says we should obey His commands if we really love Him as most of us claim. Moreover, He says His commands are not burdensome.
What I have come to learn is that sin is usually a sugar-coated pill. It always seems appealing and tastes sweet at first time before the bitter reality strikes once the sugary part wears off.
In contrast, obedience to God might at first seem a boring journey, considering some of the painful sacrifices we have to make. Later, we come to the realisation that it was a worthwhile walk when God — in His characteristic faithfulness — uplifts us from one level of life to another.
After all, He is the one who says in Matthew 6:33 that if we seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, then all the other things will be added unto us.
Blessed week dear beloved.