Are You Bound or Free

Are You Bound or Free

by Ted Mock

October 7, 2026

Matthew 19:22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

I was asked to speak at a Mission’s Conference Sunday at a church in Virginia. Mostly, I focused not on money, but on the giving of self. The question is the same for all believers—If God calls, are you free to follow?

The rich young ruler is a sobering example. Scripture says, “he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.” His wealth was not the problem—his bond to it was. Christ was inviting him into eternal treasure, but he could not let go of earthly treasure. As believers, we must hold everything loosely. Houses, lands, careers, savings—these are tools, not masters.

The moment a possession becomes something we “cannot” surrender, it has become an idol. And idols always compete with Christ.

The second danger is just as real—Becoming so bound by debt that we are not free to follow Christ wherever He leads. Scripture warns, “The borrower is servant to the lender” (Proverbs 22:7).

Debt creates obligations, pressures, and limitations that can choke spiritual responsiveness. When God says “go,” debt often says “stay.” When God says “give,” debt says, “you cannot.” When God says “serve,” debt says, “you’re too tied up.”

Christ desires His people to live with open hands and unbound feet. Paul wrote, “Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men” (1 Corinthians 7:23). We cannot afford to be owned by creditors when we are already owned by Christ.

The call of discipleship is simple—travel light, stay free, and keep Christ first. Let possessions serve you, never rule you. Let finances strengthen you, never bind you. And let your heart remain fully available to the One who said, “Follow Me.”

Luke 5:11 And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.

Reflection—Financial wisdom is not merely practical, it is spiritual. It protects our ability to obey God without hesitation.