As a Christian, you experience some of the finest spiritual privileges available from God – but with these come some serious responsibilities.
Just as you take responsibility in your relationships with family and friends, God also expects you to fulfill the obligations he places upon you. Are you fulfilling those responsibilities effectively?
What is Given?
Like a parent gives his or her child responsibility for his or her actions, God also assigns people with duties and responsibilities. These responsibilities do not belong solely to certain people; everyone receives them, with how we accept and use them determines our level of success. The Bible often talks about personal accountability.
For instance in Matthew 12:34 Ephesians 4:29 or Matthew 12:34 of personal accountability towards oneself as being held responsible (eg Matthew 12:34 Ephesians 4:29); also Old Testament commands often came with both blessings for obedience (Genesis 4:17 Exodus 20:11), further emphasizing our collective human responsibility towards both blessings (Genesis 4:17 Exodus 20:11).
God sovereignly arranges circumstances around people knowing what their response will be; whether to obey or disobey his leading. Depending on the situation and His goals (Romans 8:29; Acts 27:13-44), either passively allows them to follow their natural inclinations or actively compels them to comply. (Rom. 8:29; Acts 27:13-44).
A person who does not take his responsibilities seriously will never experience all of God’s blessings fully. While praying to receive salvation may work, but only when reaching out in faith through Jesus will salvation arrive at its promised destination. And similarly for Spirit blessings which come through believing.
God gives believers the responsibility of spreading the gospel and teaching the Bible. He expects believers to take these roles seriously and spread His love throughout the world – He even commands that each of us be His witness (https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/r/rsv/rsv-idx?type=citation&book=Matthew&chapno=28&startverse=19&endverse=20).
People who take their responsibilities lightly will fail to honor God. While they may discuss Him in conversation, they won’t learn more of His truth or increase their devotion. Additionally, they won’t be able to fulfill their church responsibilities such as meeting physical needs for members or evangelizing lost souls.
Many in fact neglect these obligations altogether and never bother attending church at all – this is tragic because He can bless faithful followers like you who remain true and faithful; therefore it is so essential to devote yourself in studying to show yourself approved unto God as a workman who needs no embarrassment while correctly dividing His word (2 Timothy 2:15).
What is Required?
God sovereignly controls everything, yet He requires people to accept responsibility for their choices. While He allows certain situations to unfold to accomplish His will, He never condones or approves of evil acts by others. According to Scripture, He holds those who choose good actions accountable while holding those who choose bad accountable (Romans 3:23; James 1:16; John 3:18).
At first glance, this appears to contradict itself because God seems to be both active and passively permitting evil; however, Scripture indicates a connection between good and bad that comes down to how people use their free will; God knows each person’s choice and places circumstances that prompt them in one way or another.
An important element to keep in mind when thinking about God’s will for us all is how people respond to the responsibilities He places upon them. Though much is required, some accept them readily while others do not take them up at all, which often results in neglect of Him as part of their daily lives. This is exemplified by praying occasionally or attending church but without making Him their priority – believing they can live life on their own without Him and becoming more responsible towards family, friends and careers than towards Him.
Christians must put the Lord at the forefront of their minds and abide in Him. To accomplish this, they should study His Word so they may learn how to obey His will obediently. Lastly, believers should strive to present themselves before Him with honor as worthy workers who rightly divide His word of truth (II Timothy 2:15).
Believers must praise Him for all that He has done and is doing in their lives, no matter their current feelings. Rather, like Psalmist David says: Let all that is within me praise the Lord! By doing so, they can rely on God knowing He is responsible because otherwise, they risk becoming self-reliant and hindering God from moving in their lives. Unfortunately, many Christians struggle with how to balance this dynamic between divine sovereignty and human responsibility.
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What is Responsibility?
Responsibility has long been used in various contexts, but perhaps the primary area for philosophical consideration has centered around this idea of individual accountability for their actions and character. Many moral disagreements like these focus on whether an action merits praise or blame, rewards or punishment, and to what degree someone is accountable for their actions and the impact they have.
Responsibility requires individuals to address both past actions and failures as well as forthcoming duties and spheres of responsibilities with care and diligence – often described by people as being “responsible citizens” or “responsible parents”.
Responsibility can also mean being held accountable to others for one’s actions and their repercussions, drawing close to moral agency; such concepts include holding oneself accountable or being held responsible for mistakes committed.
Philosophy scholars may pay relatively less attention to this last definition of responsibility; nevertheless, it remains an integral one in much political thought, with people discussing responsible governments or demanding that politicians be accountable (in Max Weber’s sense) for their decisions.
Noteworthy is how this concept of responsibility has impacted legal thinking as well. Terms such as being Responsible, Accountable or Liable are all used in law to refer to situations governed by moral or legal rules and laws – suggesting there is a direct relationship between its original political use and what people now commonly mean when discussing responsibility in terms of individual moral responsibilities. Philosophers have often highlighted this idea of Responsibility in certain areas which makes for interesting reading.
