Enslaved To Selfish Ambitions or God

Galatians 4:8

• Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods.

There was a point in our lives when we did not know God. Before Galatians came to know God, they believed there were many gods and served them as if they were real.

Galatians wasted money, resources, time and effort for things that did not exist. So why did they do that? Because they believed, as many of us still do, that serving these so-called gods would bring them salvation, wealth, favour of gods and happiness.

In reality, Galatians were enslaved to their own fears, desires and wishes and false gods were objects of their worship.

But now, what about us? Many of us who call ourselves Christians still fall into temptations of money, power and sex, and these temptations are rampant around us through the internet, media and street signs and advertisements.

We think that having stuff or having someone as a lover or friend would bring us salvation of our lives, lasting success and happiness.

Even the religious people have the similar, if not the same, aims and goals when they keep the rules, the law of Moses or the commands of Jesus. They believe by keeping these rules and commands of God, they could get God to do whatever they want and desire, namely, salvation, favour of God and success.

I'm not saying that these things are wrong, but what difference is there in worshipping God in this way from worshipping idols?

We have the same selfish ambition and motives in trying to please God so that we would get what we want. I am as convicted in this matter as anyone in this world.

I have the same selfish motives and desires, even when I ask God to make me more like Jesus in being faithful to God, and loving my neighbours as myself.

The truth is that none of us can become like God, because we are not gods. But we can become like God when God comes to reside in us.

We are mere mortals and dust of the earth, but when the Spirit of God comes to live in us, we receive immortality, even the eternal life that God promised us.

We are no longer enslaved to fake gods of this world and even our selfish ambitions and desires, when we realise and become convinced that Jesus saved me, the foremost sinner of all sinners, and that it is only by His grace that I get to know Him truly and live out the true life in God through Jesus. Amen.