My younger daughter is fond of using the above statement when we relate. As young as she is, she feels she can buy stuff for Daddy. Sometimes, when she sees my disappointment at or desire to get stuff, she would always say, “Daddy, don’t worry, I will buy it for you, you hear?” I would just smile and say, “no problem”. My daughter taught me about living with a sense of responsibility towards your father!
Dear friend, one of the marks of true sons is responsibility. Sonship to God is not only about claiming your rights, you have got to embrace your responsibilities. The Kingdom of God is a Kingdom of Rights & Responsibilities. If anyone teaches you otherwise, the person has successfully shortchanged you. God delights in seeing us step up to take our share of Kingdom responsibilities. Actually, He supplies all we would need to carry out our kingdom responsibilities (2 Corinthians 9:8).
The difference between the Prodigal Son and the Elder Brother in Luke 15 was that, the prodigal son claimed his rights without embracing his responsibilities while the elder brother embraced his responsibilities without claiming his rights (Luke 15:11-12, 25-31). Our theology must be balanced. You need to claim your rights as well as embrace your responsibilities in the Father’s house. My focus today is on embracing your responsibilities.
The proof of growth and maturity in the Kingdom is not in the things you are possessing but in what you are distributing. It is not about what you are getting but what you are giving and doing for God. We need to balance this theology of preaching about a God who always wants to give without making demands. People must know that God’s benevolent act towards us is meant to provoke our own generosity.
“…And the government shall be upon his shoulder…” (Isaiah 9:6). Sonship is not just a status, it is a responsibility. When you embrace your responsibilities towards God and the Kingdom, God begins to take you serious. I want to ask you today, what can you shoulder for God? Can God depend on you to extend the frontiers of His Kingdom in your generation? Will you say like my daughter, “Daddy, I will do it for you?”
© ‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria