Day 30
Freedom
Get all the advice and instruction you can, and be wise the rest of your life. You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail. (Proverbs 19:20-21)
In the Wisdom book of Ecclesiastes, often attributed to Solomon, we are told to “fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” (Chapter 12:13b, 14).
Humans have been given free will; we can do those things which are good and are loved by the Lord or those things which are evil and are hated by Him. He is the God of all conscience who counsels on moral questions.
Solomon reminds us that our misfortunes are typically the results of our own folly, or impatience, or selfishness. A person who moves too quickly may go the wrong way. The wise person does not move impetuously and he or she listens to counsel.
Certainly there is freedom of choice, but the repetitive command of this chapter is “listen to counsel and receive instruction that in the end you will be wise.” God has built freedom into the human spirit — the desire to have choices and live according to one’s will is not an invention of any government. God designed and gave mankind freedom, freedom to obey His commandments and to avoid all the evils and dangers to which we are exposed and also freedom to not rely on His counsel or help and to follow our own devices. Reverence of the Lord gives life, security and protection from harm. There is a choice, one can choose Wisdom (life) or refuse Wisdom (death). It is a matter of choice.
Why do people have free will? What limits do you desire on your freedom? Do you choose or refuse wisdom? Can one really choose spiritual life and death?