EQ? 5/22/2014

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. Galatians 5:13 ESV

I find it interesting, although not surprising, that so much of behavioral/sociological research that points to positive lifestyles, support Biblical premises.

In 1995, the concept of "emotional quotient" became the buzz word.  In a nutshell, EQ is a measure of how well a person can recognize and control their emotions and emotional responses to situations.  One oft-quoted measure of EQ involved a large group of children.  All children were given one marshmallow and told that if they could eat the marshmallow any time they wished, but if they waited a set period of time to eat that marshmallow, they would be given another marshmallow. 

It was noted that the children who waited long enough to get the second marshmallow were students who tended to do better in school, were better adjusted socially, and were generally more successful.

Galatians 5:13 eluded to this "breakthrough" 2000 years ago.  When Paul wrote Galatians, he was writing to those who had been recently converted from Judiasm to Christianity.  The freedom to which he refers was a freedom from the myrid of religious duties and restrictions of the Jewish faith.  But Paul is admonishing them not to use this freedom for selfish gain.  Don't gobble down the marshmallow just because you can.

The freedom we have in Christ enables us to serve each other.

Freedom from worry gives us the emotional strength to comfort others.
Freedom from financial worry gives the opportunity to give to others in need.
Freedom from ____________ gives us ____________________.  (Other examples?)

Although the base word of freedom is "free".  The freedom we have in Christ was certainly not free.  Jesus Christ paid the ultimate price for our freedom.  Let's not allow that freedom to become an opportunity to become small and self-centered.