Howard Hughes was once one of the richest men in America. He made millions in the aircraft industry and designed, built and flew--once--the largest aircraft ever built. That was the Spruce Goose, a flying boat with eight engines and built mostly of birch plywood. The wingspan of a 747 jumbo jet is 195 feet--the Spruce Goose is 320 feet.

Some might think they would enjoy great freedom if they were as rich as Howard Hughes. They could do anything they wanted.

Hughes could do almost anything he wanted. He was staying at the Desert Inn in Las Vegas taking up the top two floors. He stayed so long the management asked him to leave. He was paying the rent just fine, but they don't make much money on the rent and he wasn't gambling in the casino. The Desert Inn wanted to rent the floors to high rollers. Hughes didn't want to leave, so he bought the Desert Inn for twice what it was worth.

But by this time Hughes was obsessed with many fears. He never talked to anyone on the telephone. Everything handed to him had to be wrapped in tissue. He lived the last 20 years of his life, and died, a wretched recluse, unable to really enjoy his great wealth or even the simple pleasures of life.

Most people, rich or poor, in nations that are relatively free or totalitarian, are much more limited in their freedom than they could be. In fact they aren't free at all. They are slaves.

Look at the young man in Matthew 19:16-26. He wanted eternal life--and he went to the source who could give it to him. He asked Jesus how to gain eternal life. Jesus told him there was only one thing holding him back from his goal: "Go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."

If the young man had been truly free, he would have joyfully done as Jesus said. But he wasn't free--he was a slave: "But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions."

This young man was a slave of his possessions--riches. Howard Hughes might have been far happier in later life if he had never been so rich. He probably wouldn't have developed his obsessions and fears. Why didn't the young man Jesus spoke to do as Jesus instructed? Perhaps he was afraid that if he gave away all his riches, he'd end up a beggar. He had become a slave to his riches, putting his trust and confidence in them, instead of God.

Paul, by contrast, had learned to be free whether he was in poverty or in plenty. When he prospered it didn't bother him that he might be poverty stricken next week.

What is true freedom and how can we have it?

In Philippians 4:11 through 13, Paul tells us, "Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Most people are much more limited in their freedom than they could be. In fact they aren't free at all.

Riches of themselves do not make you a slave. Most people who are rich make themselves slaves to riches. A few, such as Abraham, don't.

Most of us don't have to worry about riches. But riches aren't the only things that can enslave us.

"Be angry, and do not sin," the scripture says, "do not let the sun go down on your wrath" (Ephesians 4:26). Are you angry with someone for their actions or attitudes for a long time? You are a slave to that person's actions or attitudes. Do you hate someone? You are a slave to your hatred--to your own attitude toward that person, deserved or not.

Do you easily take offense at what other people say or do? You are a slave to those people's words and deeds.

Do you desire to hear "smooth things" rather than truth? You are enslaved by the desire for tranquillity.

Are you overly concerned with what other people think? Are you a woman whose home must always be immaculate because someone might drop by unexpectedly and what would they think? You're a slave to what others might think.

Of course there is just the opposite; the woman who cares nothing about the condition of her home is a slave too. She's a slave to her indifference.

Covetousness, fear, worry, lying, lust, addictions--they all enslave us. How can we be truly free?

A well known Bible verse is John 8:32. It's a scripture we've heard many times: "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." And there's a scripture that goes along with it in John 17:17 (last half): "Your word is truth." That is, the words of the Bible are truth.

Yes, the truth brings true freedom and the Word of God--the Holy Bible--is the truth that brings that freedom. But HOW? Can just knowing the truth and where the truth is to be found make us free?

No, there's another leg to the stool, found in James 1:25, "But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does."

If you know the truth--from the true source, the Bible--and do what the truth tells you, you will be free indeed. Doing what you know is right gives you great freedom. Now, doesn't everyone do what they think is right? No. People often do what they think is wrong, but they justify themselves--they are slaves to justification. You never have to justify yourself when you do what you know God wants. If you're not sure if something is wrong, don't do it, "for whatever is not from faith is sin" (Romans 14:23).

Love casts out fear. Fear was the main thing that enslaved Howard Hughes in later life.

If you know the truth, you will not be overly concerned with what others think of you. You will be concerned with what God thinks of you. God has a higher standard than man, to be sure, but you also know that God understands--He will never put you down or laugh at you as other people might, but will help you in every way.

You will not take offense at what others say about you or think about you--you will not be thinking of yourself so much.

You will not let anger fester in you--you will drop it at the day's end as the scripture says. You won't get as upset when people don't speak smooth things, but will take the rough things to heart.

You will not be a slave to hatred. Hatred may not hurt the one hated, but it enslaves the hater. That's why God says to love your enemies. Love--real love--does not enslave you.

Love casts out fear. And aren't many people slaves of fear? Fear was the main thing that enslaved Howard Hughes in later life. It's true there are many things to be afraid of in this world and a certain amount of fear is healthy. But knowing God's truth frees us from most fear. We know we have God's protection from most of the things the people around us fear. We know that keeping God's laws protects us from many of the penalties other people suffer. We also know that if something terrible does occur, God will support us through whatever it is and that "all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28).

The greatest thing that enslaves people is sin.

John 8:31 through 36 tells us: "Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, 'If you abide in My word, [then] you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.' They answered Him, 'We are Abraham's descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say, "You will be made free"?' Jesus answered them, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.'"

When we repent and are baptized, all of our sins are forgiven. They are no longer shackles on our wrists and ankles. We are free. We are no longer the servant--the slave--of sin. We still sin at times and place those shackles on ourselves again, but we can go to God and have them struck off again. The Son has made us free and we are free indeed!

We are free too because we know God will take care of us.

"'Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

"'Therefore do not worry, saying, "What shall we eat?" or "What shall we drink?" or "What shall we wear?" For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (Matthew 6:25-26 and 31-33).

True freedom gives you peace of mind. "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7).