Christian
Responsibility
Christianity is a life of
responsibility. Personal responsibility is taught in the Old Testament.
"Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, And let
your heart cheer you in the days of your youth; Walk in the ways of your heart,
And in the sight of your eyes; But know that for all these God will bring you
into judgment." (Ecclesiastes 11:9) The New Testament also teaches
personal responsibility. "For each one shall bear his own load."
(Galatians 6:5) Judgment will be by God's word, and based on ability plus
opportunity. Each Christian has ability and opportunity and therefore each
Christian has responsibility.
God’s people are responsible for what they
think: "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.
'Eat and drink!' he says to you, But his heart
is not with you." (Proverbs 23:7) No one can do right who does not think
right. Thinking determines our eternal destination. Wrong actions always grow
out of wrong thinking. "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts,
murders, adulteries, fornication's, thefts, false witness, blasphemies."
(Matthew 15:19)
God’s people are responsible for what they
believe: "For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our
Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the
truth." (1 Timothy 2:3-4) In a world torn with
hundred of beliefs God's people are responsible for believing and doing what is
right. God's word, the Bible, is the source of our faith (Romans
God’s people are responsible for what they
say: "But I say to you that
for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified,
and by your words you will be condemned." (Matthew 12:36-37) Words can
bless or hurt those touched by our lives. "What" is said and
"how" it is said is the responsibility of the child of God. Your
words can save or condemn, bless or hurt, cheer or discourage, lift up or pull
down.
God’s people are responsible for what they
do: "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ,
that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has
done, whether good or bad." (2 Corinthians 5:10) Our deeds are our life.
The judgment as pictured in Matthew twenty-five, should cause us to look at
our deeds. What have you done for God this week?
God’s people are responsible for what they
give: "Will a man rob God?
Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, 'In what way have
we robbed You?' In tithes and
offerings."(Malachi 3:8) Giving is a great indicator of our
spiritual depth. "Give, and it will be given to
you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put
into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured
back to you." (Luke 6:38) Giving is
an indication of where your heart is. "Do not lay up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and
steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,
where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and
steal." (Matthew 6:19-20)
God’s people are responsible for what they
teach: "My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing
that we shall receive a stricter judgment." (James 3:1) Those that teach
are responsible for the salvation of their own souls and of those they teach.
"Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine.
Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who
hear you." (1 Timothy 4:16)
"Responsibility" is almost an
ugly word in our world today. However, "Christian" and "responsibility"
go together. One cannot be "Christian" without fulfilling
"responsibility." As a Christian fulfill your responsibility!
Will you appreciate Jesus enough that you
will receive Him as your Lord and Savior NOW? To become a Christian you must
hear the gospel (Romans
By Charles Box,