Doing our Duty

Ecclesiastes 12:13 “That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty.”

I read an article the other week by Dr. Gene Veith on the duty of Christians. In today society, duty carries a negative connotation, but this was not the interpretation in the near past. I remember being in the Boy Scouts and memorizing and reciting the Boy Scout Oath: On my honor, I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; To help other people at all times; To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight. Looking up the definition of the word “Duty” in the 1828 Webster’s Dictionary, duty is defined as forbearance of that which is forbid by morality, law, justice or propriety. It is our duty to refrain from lewdness, intemperance, profaneness and injustice. That which a person owes to another; that which a person is bound, by any natural, moral or legal obligation, to pay, do or perform. Obedience to princes, magistrates and the laws is the duty of every citizen and subject; obedience, respect and kindness to parents are duties of children; fidelity to friends is a duty; reverence, obedience and prayer to God are indispensable duties; the government and religious instruction of children are duties of parents which they cannot neglect without guilt.

Luke 9:23-24 Then he said to them all, “If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.”

Dr. Veith explains that in Christian terms, duties are the responsibilities that come from a person’s vocations; that people carry out their callings – holy orders for living out the Christian faith. Duty has a spiritual significance. Looming behind these duties is the gospel of Jesus Christ Those in Christ’s church (with Jesus as the head) deny themselves on accepting Christ’s sacrifice. The cross refers not just to suffering but to sacrifice , denial, even crucifixion of the self for someone’s else’s sake. That this cross-bearing is to take place “daily” means that our Lord is not referring to some glorious martyrdom, but to the ordinary, day-to-day tasks of life – our vocation.

Luke 17:10 “In the same way, when you obey me you should say, ‘We are unworthy servants who have simply done our duty.’”

We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ and by the works of His sacrifice, not by our own works or sacrifices. This is the gift of God.  But Christ then calls each and every one of us (as Children of God) to arenas of service in ordinary life, simply doing our duty.

In Christ, Brian