Privilege and Responsibiity

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations.  Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.   And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  (Matthew 28:19,20  NIV)

   The responsibility is to make disciples, baptize them, and teach them to obey what He taught us.  His promise is that He will always be with us.  We have the privilege of having Jesus with us every second of every hour or every day.  His presence is a joy that brings me peace when I take time to stop and listen to Him.   It is my responsibility to take the time to listen until I hear.  Sometimes it takes a while until I hear, and sometimes He asks me to just sit still in His presence and experience the grandeur of Him.  When I do that, I become empowered to be a spreader of His peace, joy, and encouragement.  

   Having the attention of the creator of the universe, listening to every word that I speak to Him is one of my privileges.  Isn’t it special when a loved one listens intently to what you say, and don’t you feel appreciated when a group gets quiet and looks to you when you speak?  Listening intently is a mark of respect, and the creator of the universe, the Savior of all mankind does that for me.  That’s how much He loves me, and that shows just how important I am to Him.  Isn’t it then my responsibility to listen intently for Him to speak?

   I really appreciate it when someone takes the time to read what I write, and when they say they like it or comment on it, I am delighted.  It is my privilege to read the book that God has written through many writers over many centuries.  This book, the Bible, contains vital information that God wants me to know.  Reading it is my privilege, and my responsibility is to read it carefully, slowly, and with both my heart and my mind open to what God has said for my growth in Him.

   By reading His Word, I realize other responsibilities He has given me.  “Love your neighbor as yourself” is what God tells me in Mathew 22:39 (NIV).  In case I don’t quite understand the command in Matthew 22:39, Jesus speaks in Luke 6:31 (NIV), and tells me, “Do to others as you would have them do to you.”  One of Solomon’s proverbs, Proverbs 19:17 (NIV) names the privilege and responsibility in the same verse: “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done.”  Isn’t that remarkable that God says that we lend to Him when we help the poor.   There’s a responsibility that I can satisfy just about every day.  

   Jesus lists the greatest commandment in Mathew 22:37 (NIV):  “Jesus replied, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your mind….”  That’s our number one responsibility, and in return for fulfilling that responsibility we receive eternal salvation, a life together with Him forever.  We can do that only if we have accepted Jesus as our Savior, and that’s a privilege that comes with both rewards and responsibilities.  It seems to me that the responsibilities are actually blessings in themselves.  So, love the Lord.  It’s a win win proposition—we get privileges and are given responsibilities that are actually blessings.