Every beating heart longs for freedom. No one likes to be chained by anything. We desire financial freedom. We desire relational freedom. We want to be liberated from anything that holds us captive.

And so what do we do with this freedom? We do whatever we desire, right? After all, isn’t that the essence of freedom – the ability to do whatever we want?
If I can go wherever I want, then I am free. If I can buy whatever I want, then I am free. If I can talk to whoever I want, then I am free.

Really? Is freedom really all about me? Is freedom really focused on self and all that I want? Because when I look around at people I know, the most liberated people are those who focus very little on themselves. The free people are those who are giving themselves away. They see freedom as an opportunity to bless others. They see freedom as the right to serve others. They spend their days looking for opportunities to touch another person’s life. I have discovered that free people are those who are not chained to themselves. Somewhere in their past, they gave up trying to please themselves and in that moment, they found liberty. In the words of Martin Luther King, “Free at last! Free at last!”

And yes their freedom was costly, perhaps even sacrificial. But after that liberating moment gave them the opportunity to live for others, they would gladly pay any price for the chance to do what they are doing now. Peace and contentment becomes a way of life for the free people.

So if you find yourself in bondage today, here’s a question: Who are you thinking about most today? If I had to guess, I would say that your greatest bondage is selfishness. Step toward someone today who needs you. And in the process, you will feel the chains weaken.