God gets you to the plate, but once you’re there, you’re on your own.
Ted Williams
Here we are at the beginning of a new work week… and I’ve thrown down a potential stumbling block! Please believe me when I tell you that I’ve really considered whether or not I should use the word “responsibility” in this post, since I know that some struggle with this. Let’s be clear: This post is not a faith versus works argument! Regular readers will know right off that I am the one who says there is no argument at all between faith and works, since there is no way to earn salvation, there can be no conflict between the two. Salvation is by faith, and works are involved in our response to it, so please don’t go there. I also know that nobody in the 21st century likes the idea of responsibility, yet there really is such a thing. Again, please resist the urge to jump to some kind of transactional relationship in this, for there is no such thing between us and God; His love and mercy are unconditional. With that said however, who would suggest that a Christian is supposed to just go on living as they did before… just like everyone else? Yes, that’s right, we’re supposed to be different as a result of our salvation and God’s love for us… and our love for His children; and that is what I mean by “responsibility”. OK, I’m going to watch those comments, and I will know it if you forgot to read this paragraph! J
We all know that God is with us all of the time, but even though He is with us, He expects us to do things. The need to do things in His service is our responsibility. As you mature spiritually, you will grow in several areas of Christian responsibility that are also named as a gift. You may or may not actually have that particular gift, but you are still responsible for certain Christian behaviors. Here are five examples that come up regularly:
- The gift of giving and the responsibility to give
Giving is a part of life and should start whenever financial life starts. One must not wait until he makes big money to start giving. Few men who wait to give ever really give. Giving is part of building a whole life. My dear friend Maxey Jamman had given millions of dollars to Christian causes. In the latter part of his business life he had some reverses. During this temporary period I asked him if he ever thought about the many millions he had given away, now that he was not as wealthy. ‘Of course I have, but remember I never lost a dollar of the money I gave. I only lost what I kept.’
Fred Smith
A Christian who has the gift of giving is abundantly generous. They are out there seeking ways to give. Often they are even thinking of ways to make more money so they can give it away. Every Christian has the responsibility to give, and to do so cheerfully to help others.
- The gift of evangelism and the responsibility to share our faith
Christians and non-Christians have one thing in common, we’re both uptight about evangelism.
Rebecca Pippert
A Christian who has the gift of evangelism can lead just about anything that moves to Jesus; they live to share their faith and are highly fruitful in the results of their efforts. For the rest us, even though we may not have the gift, we must be ready, willing and able to share our faith when the occasion arises… even though we may not enjoy the level of success that the gifted Christian might enjoy. Who knows? Maybe the opportunity you or I have might be with a person who wouldn’t respond to the gifted person; maybe that’s why God put them in our path instead.
- The gift of intercession and the responsibility to pray
A wise investor turns spare time into prayer time.
Sign on a church wall
A person who has the gift of intercession will pray with passion for long periods of time. Often they will go looking for needs to pray for. Those who are without the gift are still responsible to pray; their prayers are no less appealing to the Lord, it’s just that they don’t have a gift for it… but they do have a responsibility for it.
- The gift of faith and the responsibility to exercise our faith
You don’t know what you have until it’s tested
Rees Howells
A person with the gift of faith may show extraordinary vision and trust in God; well beyond any normal expectation. However, all of us, yes every single one of us, is expected to live a life of faith.
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)
- The gift of service and the responsibility to serve in some area of ministry
By now you should see a pattern: Someone who has the gift of service will go above and beyond the usual to find a place to serve. They will work long, hard and with cheer. Even so, the rest of us have a responsibility to serve and to find a place to serve.
Obviously there are more examples I could use here, but these should give you the idea, even if you have a bit of a problem with the word responsibility. Here’s one last example: I don’t have the gift of mercy; in fact I score really low in that one! Yet when I come across someone who is hurting, I can’t just walk past them and call someone with the gift of mercy to love them. A person with the gift is out looking for people to help; I need to make a conscious effort to help, because that’s what people do who are filled with the love of Jesus Christ.
Please share your thoughts! Later today, we’ll talk about some possible dangers associated with spiritual gifts; see you then!
Life Project Blog 
Very well said, friend. “[God] expects s to do things.” That’s definitely one of those truths that we struggle with at times. Thanks for sharing!
🙂
100% agree with this post. Jesus said it so many times also. If the servant who was given 1 talent couldn’t be bothered to do anything but bury it why should he be given responsibility for anything and everything was taken away. In our next lives the positions we are given will be weighted very heavily on what we did with our responsibilities in this life.
Thank you Steve!
Another interesting post, I do believe that all Christians have the obligation and responsibility to demonstrate their faith and the specific reason is that God’s love was given to undeserving humans however we must make the best use of our whole life, expend ourselves fully in our service.
Why though a responsibility? Ezekiel and the role of the Watchman comes to mind – God’s love is all embracing but not unconditional we need to meet his standards and part of that is using our gifts to serve him
Well trotter, if this was a classroom setting, I’d say, “So class, what do you think; anybody want to weigh in?”
…and I hope that some will; a very interesting conversation can follow…
Got me googling!!!
“These ROOT-WORDS are SPOND & SPONS meaning PLEDGE & ANSWER. It comes from the Latin spondee, sponders & sponsus meaning to pledge. In that very you get the explanation of the two spellings of the ROOT-WORD. Knowing that the Root means Pledge and convenant gives one the full, rich meaning of the word reSPONSibility. It means not only to pledge, but to REpledge”
Don would you say that the Bible highlights the judgement of the wicked and that there is a time for settling accounts.
God doesn’t force anyone to serve him therefore once we reject him we alienate ourselves, step away from his standards and accept our choice. We make it for God we have a ‘responsibility’ that is continually renewed.
God doesn’t hate the wicked, he hates wickedness and judges accordingly therefore he hates what is bad. The final judgement for the devil is completed because of his love for creation in heaven and on earth. Once Satan is destroyed all things that want to be reconciled to god can be.
Oh and I’m known to friends as Mark.
Hi Mark! Thank you for spurring so great conversation today.
Would I say there is a judgment day? You bet. I’d also say that all who desire to be reconciled to God can be, through Christ, and of course I agree with you on the responsibility part, and as I recall that’s where we began this morning 🙂
There is an odd phenomenon which (for me) links with your piece today. I have seen it often when driving (although some take pride in suppressing what I am about to describe):
I let someone waiting to join the main road in ahead of me when driving – and (from experience) then prepare to slow down somewhere further down the road – because they will so often let in someone else ahead of them. It has happened too often to be “coincidence.”
In a very small way that is the essence to me of your word “responsibility” here. Kindness begets kindness. And as we have had done to us the greatest kindness of all – then suppressing it is kind of weird!
Oh yes, quite so… and this is another comment that can begin an interesting conversation should anyone care to weigh in right about now!
I have found that treating people as they ought to be helps them to become that: If someone lacks self-confidence, give them permission and encourage them to do something that you notice as their idea, and they become more bold; etc.
Jesus called those to be his disciples who had no hope of becoming disciples of a noted rabbi of their day, thus saying to them, “I think you can be like me.” What a boost to these common men! What an honor, what a thrill, to be invited to follow, to become like, a rabbi.
Jesus so invites us to become like Him. When we accept the gift of the Holy Spirit, we have the same Spirit that impelled Him to do the will of the Father.
Fantasitic point Dennis; it is as you say!
I have seen people excuse themselves from some area of service by saying, “That’s not my gift” Personal evangelism is usually the one I see. Folks are understandably nervous and scared of that, so they excuse themselves by saying they are not gifted in the area. Even worse is a person who is crabby and unfriendly and excuses it by saying Love is not their gift. You are so right, not being gifted in some area does not let us off the hook in that area.
Yes, exactly… and the exaples you cite can easily be me, for those are not my gifts… and that is no excuse!
Reblogged this on Olayemirichard's Blog.
Well said Sir,thanks for sharing this.
Thank you!
You welcome Sir.
Like a preacher friend of mine often says: “A person can’t go from no Grace to Grace without change.” Or making a play on the word responsibility: Response – ability. Grace, making us able to respond, will witness a response through “works” if not willfully stunted,
Or, again, explaining how Paul’s discourse on Grace corresponds with James’ preaching on works: Paul says salvation is by Grace alone. James says that Grace is made visible by works. Grace justifies us before God, works justifies us before man. Faith without works is dead – that is, it serves neither man nor God in any appreciable way.
Well said Sir!