When Freedom Arrives: How Wisdom Teaches Us to Flourish, Not Flounder

by Dave Miller

We long for freedom.

Freedom from sin. Freedom from shame. Freedom from striving. Freedom from structures that bind us, from expectations that crush us. And in Christ, freedom is exactly what we are given:

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free” (Galatians 5:1).

But here is the paradox:

When freedom comes, many do not know what to do with it. We arrive—and then flounder.

Why? Because freedom without wisdom is a wilderness. It becomes a void, or a new bondage to self. But in Christ, wisdom teaches us to flourish in freedom. Not to fear it, nor squander it, but to walk in it with joyful purpose.

Freedom Is Not an Arrival Point

Many Christians think of freedom as an arrival:

“If I can just break free of this… if I can just achieve that… then life will work.”

But biblically, freedom is not the finish line — it’s the starting line of discipleship. Freedom is a space created by Christ’s finished work, where we now get to live out His life by His Spirit. It is a field to be cultivated, not a lounge chair to rest in. This is why Paul, immediately after proclaiming our freedom, warns:

“Do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love” (Galatians 5:13).

Freedom is meant to be filled — not with indulgence, but with wisdom.

Wisdom Teaches Us What to Do With Freedom

In past blog articles, we explored that wisdom is not simply knowledge or moralism. It is skillful living — a Spirit-empowered capacity to discern and do what is good in any given moment. This is why Proverbs is not merely about avoiding sin; it is about learning the rhythms of a flourishing life.

It trains us to be people who know what to do with freedom.

• Wisdom helps us order our time well.

  
  

• Wisdom guides our speech to build up.

  
  

• Wisdom trains us to steward relationships with grace.

  
  

• Wisdom cultivates generosity with resources.

  
  

• Wisdom teaches us how to rest and how to work.

  
  

Freedom alone can’t teach these things. In fact, freedom can tempt us to become passive or self-indulgent. But wisdom says: “Here is how you take this precious gift and use it for life, not for loss.”

Jesus: The Mentor of Wise Freedom

Jesus doesn’t just set us free, he mentors us into abundant life (John 10:10). He walks with us to teach us how to live wisely in the wide spaces of freedom. That is why discipleship is not a one-time event but an ongoing apprenticeship.

Without wisdom, freedom can lead to floundering:

• chasing new idols

  
  

• falling back into sin

  
  

• wasting time and energy

  
  

• becoming isolated in self-focus

  
  

But with Jesus as our Mentor and the Spirit as our Guide, freedom becomes fruitful:

• loving with purpose

  
  

• creating beauty and goodness

  
  

• walking humbly in community

  
  

• advancing the Kingdom in the midst of ordinary life

  
  
  
  

Arriving and Flourishing

Here is the heart of it:

In Christ, we have arrived at freedom — but this arrival is an invitation to flourish, not an excuse to coast. Wisdom ensures that freedom is not a vacuum, but a vibrant field of purpose. It makes us fruitful agents of grace, not anxious managers of our own liberty.

And wisdom reminds us that we remain learners:

“Let the wise listen and add to their learning” (Proverbs 1:5).

Freedom is the open road — wisdom is the map and compass.

Conclusion: A Call to Flourish

So as we walk in the freedom for which Christ set us free:

Do not fear it. Do not squander it. Do not idolize it. Instead — pursue wisdom, daily and diligently.

Let Jesus mentor you into life that is abundant, not empty, because freedom is not the end. It is the beginning. And in Christ, it is the glorious space where we are called not merely to arrive — but to flourish.