Scripture Notes: Free Will (Sirach 15)

Once again, Sirach reveals his practicality and solid knowledge of human nature when he discusses free will. He begins with a warning: we must not blame God when we sin. Our sin is our very own fault, Sirach insists. God gave us free will from the very moment He created us. It is a gift because without free will, we cannot truly love. But with free will, we can choose to turn away from God in sin.

Sirach reminds us that the choice is ours. God “has placed before you fire and water,” the fire of condemnation or the water of life. We get to choose. We can turn to death or life, and God will give us exactly what we select.

God knows all things, Sirach says. He understands our actions better than we do. But He does not violate our free will (after all, it is his gift), and He never, ever commands anyone to sin. He does not even give permission to sin. Why? Because sin separates us from God. And that is the last thing God wants for His beloved children. So when we sin, we are responsible for our free choices, and it is a very good thing that God is merciful and forgives us when we repent and confess our sins and return to Him.