Responsibility

15 October 19990 Comments

Responsibility
Every person in the world has responsibilities within his scope:
Responsibilities within the family, and responsibilities toward the Church, and responsibilities toward the society in which he lives, and responsibilities in building the Kingdom—and before all this, responsibilities toward himself, so that he may build his own self spiritually and culturally, and deepen his relationship with God day after day.
And sufficient regarding the responsibilities of man is the verse that says:
“Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin” (Jas 4:17).
And the responsibilities that are upon us are numerous and varied: spiritual and social, and cultural, and material… Included in them is the saying of Scripture: “Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world” (Jas 1:27). And also included in our social responsibility is the saying of the Lord: “Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me” (Mt 25:40).
And this responsibility determines our destiny in eternity (Mt 25:46).
And within the scope of this responsibility we must at least give tithes and firstfruits.
And no one can escape when God asks him: Where is Abel your brother?
And upon us also is a spiritual responsibility in building the Kingdom according to our ability.
We are responsible before our consciences, and before the Church, and before God.
And there are other responsibilities upon us before the state, and before our superiors at work. And upon us is a greater responsibility when we stand before God on the last day, to give an account for all that we have done in the body, whether good or evil (2 Cor 5:10).
Rather, we are responsible for every talent God has granted us and how we used it, whether it was a spiritual or intellectual or artistic talent, or of any kind…
Many were entrusted with responsibility by others. And some were driven by their consciences to bear responsibility.
Habib Girgis is the one who volunteered—driven by his conscience—to establish the Sunday Schools, and to care for their curricula, and to care for religious education in the schools, and to author books for it to be taught in all levels of education. And also to compose hymns according to the melodies of the Church… all of that from an inner motivation calling him to bear responsibility.
The same situation applies to all consecrated men and women who gave their lives to the service of the Lord in all the needs of the Church.
They were not forced into that, but their hearts pushed them to bear responsibility.
It is an inner feeling, and a zeal of heart, and a conviction in thought and conscience to give their lives to God and not to the world, so that God may use them in whatever condition He wants…
They did not wait for a clear call from others, but God placed in their hearts that burning longing for His service, so they responded and offered themselves…
Truly, who called the young David to save the army from Goliath?!
And who called Isaiah?! (Is 6:8). And who called Nehemiah to build the walls of Jerusalem?! Is it not the burning of the heart to bear responsibility? Yes, it is so.