Obligations

 Obligations

The apostle Paul wrote,

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Philippians 2:3,4.

As Christians, believers in Christ Jesus the apostle Paul tells us we are not only to look out for our own interests but the interests of others. In James 2:14-20, we are encouraged to help those who are in need among us.

I think amid the pandemic we are currently living through, this not only means for followers Christ Jesus to look out for the physical needs of others but also for the health of others. And if that means getting vaccinated we should be doing so. For in doing so we are looking out for the health of those around us.

I found this on the internet and while not of Christian origin I think it expresses something Christians consider.

“The single biggest thing I learned was from an indigenous elder of Cherokee descent, Stan Rushworth, who reminded me of the difference between a Western settler mindset of "I have right" and an indigenous mindset of "I have obligations." Instead of thinking that I am born with rights, I choose to think that I am born with obligations to serve the past, present, and future generations, and the planet herself.” Author unknown

Nowhere in the Bible are Christians given rights. Certainly Paul and the other apostle had no rights under Roman law. Rights are a secular concept evangelical Christians seem to have latched onto.

If we read the bible however we see we do have obligations to God, our family and to those around them.

So that being said, do you honour the obligations you have to God and others?

Please think about it.

Not rights obligations

 Not rights obligations

Jesus said,

"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,  

bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.  

If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic.  

Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.  

Do to others as you would have them do to you. 

"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners' love those who love them.  

And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners' do that.  

And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners' lend to ‘sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full.  

But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.  

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:27-36.

Here in North America we have rights and freedoms many in the world can only dream of.

Sadly however many calling themselves Christians put their rights ahead of their beliefs. They emphasize “their rights” to the point of almost holding their rights up as a something to be worshipped. They fail to recognize the rights of those they disagree with. This should not be so.

Christians, believers in Christ Jesus, have an obligation to treat those around them in the  same way they would want to be treated.

Matthews gospel records Jesus as saying it this way,

"So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets" Matthew 7:12.

If you claim to be a Christian, a believer in Christ Jesus, are you doing this?

Please think about it.