DAY 13: CHRISTIAN RESPONSIBILITIES

  1. Yourself - 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12
    1. We need to be financially independent in the sense that we take care of our own. As adults we should not be dependent on parents, family, friends, or the church except in rare instances.
    2. Non-Christians do not respect people who do not carry their weight financially. We hinder the spread of the Gospel if we are irresponsible with our finances.
  2. Family - 1 Timothy 5:4-8
    1. Taking care of our family is one of the most basic responsibilities we have. If we fail, we deny the faith.
    2. Responsibility includes at least parents, grandparents, spouse, children, 7 brothers and sisters.
    3. It is right for us to repay our parents and grandparents.
  3. Government - Romans 13:1-7
    1. We need to support the government through the payment of taxes.
    2. We pay not according to what we can get away with but what is right to pay.
  4. The Church - 1 Cor 16:1-2
    1. Each one has the responsibility to take care of the church financially.
    2. Set aside on the first day of every week.
    3. Plan and save for special contributions.
  5. The Poor - Luke 12:33; James 1:27

QUESTIONS

  1. In which of the above areas am I not fulfilling my responsibilities?

1 Th 4:11-12 Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, {12} so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

1 Tim 5:4-8 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God. {5} The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help. {6} But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives. {7} Give the people these instructions, too, so that no one may be open to blame. {8} If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Rom 13:1-7 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. {2} Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. {3} For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. {4} For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. {5} Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. {6} This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. {7} Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

1 Cor 16:1-2 Now about the collection for God's people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. {2} On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.

Luke 12:33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.

James 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.