When Love Runs Wild
“When people do not accept Divine guidance, they run wild.” Proverbs 29:18 NLT
Kim and I recently completed a documentary series on the lives of prisoners. The local sheriff over this facility conducted an experiment that allowed the prisoners more freedom. Instead of being locked in their cells for 23 hours, with one hour of freedom per day, they were given the freedom to roam within common areas without security present and mingle with each other 24/7 seven.
Upon the announcement of these changes, the inmates exploded with excitement as though they had the right not to be governed by anyone but themselves. The former arrangement, of course, proved to be a miserable experience. But after the newness of freedom wore off, the abundance of free time also brought its own kind of misery. Left to govern their own lives, they got into constant arguments and disagreements, and more than a few punches were thrown.
What happened? My assessment was that they were bored and couldn't behave themselves. They needed to have a job, be productive, and set goals beyond playing cards and smoking homemade cigarettes. In other words, these inmates, like the rest of us, need purpose. Singles, without divine purpose, have no guardrails in which to make decisions in the area of romance and, thus, “run wild” with their hearts packing up so much baggage. Baggage they will eventually have to unpack within their marriages.
In much the same way, the excitement of that new freedom felt by those prisoners is felt by married couples when they first get together. The initial excitement of wedded bliss can be overwhelming. But as life settles in, the thrill of a new experience lessens. If a husband or wife attempts to live their lives without purpose, something beyond and bigger than themselves as a central team, you could also see constant arguments, disagreements, and maybe even a few girlie punches (now, of course, boys, don’t hit your girls).
Love of the romantic was designed to happen in the context of purpose, a dream from Heaven. A calling the two of you were matched for. Wisdom, like a governing, says to be busy about your purpose as much as you know before the romantic arrives. When it does, you will have something even more divine to live for than one another. The sacrifice of Christ has set us free from sin and condemnation, but it also has set us free for the purpose of setting others free. That’s what our new freedom in Christ is for.
