Our Responsibilities

by McCormick, F. | Category: General | May 1954

There is a growing tendency all around us for the rising generation to shun responsibility. As I write, the words of a prominent politician are quoted in the press. He says, "I am amazed at the number of employers who tell me they have men they would like to promote, but they shirk the responsibility." We know that the idea of the "Welfare State " is to alleviate suffering, and eliminate poverty, but alongside of such schemes has grown up a sense of irresponsibility. The growing notion is to take everything for granted. The State will provide for almost every need from the cradle to the grave. Consequently, the sense of personal responsibility has receded, and is reaching a very low ebb.

It would be a calamity if such an attitude became predominant among God's people relative to the things of God. There is no such thing in scripture as a" welfare state" relative to the " holy nation" into which God has called us. We strike a note of warning lest the spirit of our times should encroach upon our spiritual activities. It is observable that in times of material prosperity God's people have often declined int6 spiritual weakness. It was so with Israel.

"Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked. Then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation"

(Deuteronomy 32.15).

It was so with Solomon, and also Uzziah (2 Chronicles 26.16) in whose days Amos prophesied (Amos 1.1). Money making, luxury, revelry, the idle song, and the bed of ease were the characteristics of that day, and God's people reached a low spiritual state. They turned a deaf ear to God's voice, and forbade the prophets to prophesy. Of them it is written,

"They hate him that reproveth in the gate, and they abhor him that speaketh uprightly" (Amos 5.10).

There was rank unconcern regarding spiritual things, and utter failure to rise to their responsibilities. Self interests were predominant, each was seeking his own things. Shall we in our day be lulled to sleep in a path of case and plenty?

We think particularly of our young people, exposed to the blighting effects of a world in moral decline, and increasing irresponsibility. Eating, drinking, marrying, and given in marriage, buying, selling, planting and building. Lawful, and also unlawful activities, alas! engaging the whole attention of men; and the cesspool of human lawlessness and iniquity sends forth its defiling influences.

Shall our spiritual lives be blighted by being lethargic to the soul destroying influences around us? Are we content to drift to heaven on flowery beds of ease?

Young man, young woman, men and women of the future (if God will), are you rising to your responsibilities now?

Do you spend time with God

Alone in prayer?

Alone in meditation of His word?

Alone in self-examination?

Alone in seeking how you may fulfil your responsibilities to God, and men?

We need the secret wheat beaters, like Gideon (Judges 6.), and we need the wheat eaters. "What is the straw to the wheat?

"He feedeth thee with the finest of the wheat (fat of wheat R.V.M.)"

(Psalm 147. 14).

How many are trying to live on the husks of worldly entertainment and human philosophy, passed on through the radio and television?

Some children are spoon-fed, they open their mouths and swallow what is given to them, if it is palatable. Many of God's children are like that, but growth brings responsibility, and the time comes when they must do something themselves. It is clear that many do not grow, because they do not feed. It is too much trouble to search out the enriching and delectable food of God's word. God's table is never empty, there is enough and to spare.

"The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again" (Proverbs 19.24).

Some never seem to bring anything out of God's word, either to feed themselves or their fellows. God's people in the past had to be up early in the morning, and get down to it, to gather the manna sufficient to live, and so have we. Let us rise to our responsibility. Coming to the assembly meetings is an excellent thing, and is enjoined upon us,

"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the custom of some is" (Hebrews 10.25).

Do you sometimes go away disappointed? ~'I got nothing from the meeting," says someone; the real point is, "Did you put anything into it? Was it a 'Bible Reading'? Did you bring any oil for the light? A prayer meeting? Did you pray in the Holy Spirit, moving all hearts to join in the Amen? Was it a gospel meeting? Then did you play your part in silent prayer or active service according to your gift? The breaking of the bread.? Did you remain unmoved by the memories of a loving, suffering, dying Saviour, bearing the shame and curse that you might live? Did you not offer your turtle dove of five words in appreciation of Christ?"

In God's holy nation to-day, all are required to fulfil their Godgiven responsibilities, and,

"It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth"

(Lamentations 3.27).

This is no welfare state of wait and take; the principle here is give and get. (See Matthew 25.14-30).

"There is that scattereth, and increaseth yet more; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, and it tendeth only to want"

(Proverbs 11.24).

McCormick, F. | May 1954
General