What Spiritual Responsibilities..?

"God has given us the ability to direct our lives, either according to intelligence in recognition of our obligation to God and our fellowmen, or according to selfishness and unintelligence in the supreme seeking of our own happiness."  - Gordon Olson (1907–1989)

We are all familiar with responsibilities that are related to our lives. There are, for example, work responsibilities, financial responsibilities, family responsibilities, and legal responsibilities, and so on. 

Although the word "responsibility," may be defined several different ways, we will fixate on just one today: "the state or fact of being accountable or to blame for something." 

Adding the adjective "spiritual" before the word, in effect, raises the stakes considerably. Unfortunately, a good number of us have no clue what our "spiritual responsibilities" as Christians are. 

An uncomplicated way of describing "spiritual responsibility" might be this: to know what God and others expect from me, and doing it. This can be easier said than done. Still, it is essential.

I realize our lives are chock-full of various responsibilities as it is. The last thing we need is to add one more "responsibility." But this isn't just one more routine responsibility. This particular responsibility matters to God.

With the holiest of seasons rapidly approaching, perhaps there's no better time to bring this up than the present. In our pursuit of material wealth and personal comfort, we can become distracted from, and indifferent toward, others. 

1 John 3:17 tells us, "If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth."

An unsympathetic, compassionless attitude is not acceptable to God. We can inform ourselves about our "spiritual responsibilities" by reading the Bible. Obedience to His Word, loving and forgiving others, and meeting practical needs are highlighted therein.

And while God is not against anyone living comfortably and having the means to do so, He wants us to be "responsible" in our awareness of, and empathy toward, the indigent or ailing. 

When Jesus was here, he gave us a template regarding "spiritual responsibility." We, as believers in Him, are responsible to carry on His work, of which this is a part of. We are not being asked to do the impossible, only to do what is expected of us.

Scripture: Proverbs 19:17; Ephesians 4:32; Galatians 6:2; Zechariah 7:9; Romans 12:13

Prayer: "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,"  - 2 Corinthians 1:3

Have a blessed day!

Colleen