I was having a conversation with a dear brother in Church one day. I could see how surprised he was that the Church went all the way to care for him. I had to tell him; “Bro., what we have done for you is part of your rights as a Church member.” I went on to also explain the responsibility side of Church membership.
Friend, the kingdom of God is a kingdom of rights and responsibilities. You need to claim your rights, but also embrace your responsibilities. When you ONLY claim your rights, you end up becoming prodigal (Luke 15:11-13). When you ONLY embrace your responsibilities, you would live like a slave even in your own Father’s house (Luke 15:25, 29).
The kind of doctrine you are exposed to would determine the kind of Christian you would turn out to be (1 Timothy 4:6). You need to be exposed to a balanced doctrine; of both rights and responsibilities. For example, some people think that God is only interested in what we do for Him without caring about our wellbeing. This is not what the scripture teaches (Psalms 35:27, Matthew 6:32, 1 Timothy 6:17).
Embracing your responsibility is a proof of maturity in the kingdom. God is looking for those who would shoulder kingdom responsibilities; in their neighborhood, Church, work place etc (Isaiah 9:6). He is looking for those who would go after lost souls, those who would carry the burden of intercession and those through whom His pleasure will prosper (Isaiah 53:10).
God does not bypass the responsible for, at least two things; divine communication and divine choice. When God sees in you a man or woman who takes pleasure in the advancement of His work on earth, He would begin to communicate with you. Like Abraham, you need to know that you carry a destiny of greatness that demands responsibility (Genesis 18:17-18).
David was not only interested in enjoying the goodies of his father (Jesse)’s house; he also took responsibility for the sheep. This mindset positioned him for Divine Choice (1 Samuel 16:1-12). What about you? What part of kingdom purpose around you are you taking responsibility for (Acts 13:36)? Will the assignment of God suffer in your day or will it advance because of you?
‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria