Blessings of Responsibility
A Message by Pastor Timothy Ikinya
LUKE 12:48
Behind every joy of favor there is a burden called responsibility. Your strength and prosperity should not be heaped up for you alone. I believe that all this is for the test of responsibility. When we are blessed by God he expects us to be responsible people if we are to expect more blessings from Him. The Bible says that to him that much is given, much shall be required of him. We have always had problems because we expect much but give little.
When we are favored in every category whether physical or spiritual, something is expected of us. Whatever level of opportunity given by men or God we are all expected to show our performance. Someone once said that if we cannot stand the heat we should get out of the kitchen. If we are to live a life of irresponsibility then we should not expect any further favor.
Favored churches carry big burdens with them. They have to handle many prayer requests, they help many financially, make a lot of outreach calls, pay many bills, handle family problems and preach to many and many more. This is what we call the burden of favor. Sometimes when God has to accomplish much, He gives skills to people and equips His people, expecting much responsibility. Now that we have opportunities and all that we have needed from Him, let us be responsible people. Let us be determined to be faithful to the high calling to which we have been called.
As a church we have the call of being responsible people. Teachers are expected to teach, and all that desire to be bishops should know what is required of them (1 Tim 3:10). Our God has given us much responsibility, but the outcome is below the expected. Though the apostles passed through much persecution and martyrdom, they did not forget their responsibility to preach the gospel even when ridiculed.
All pastors, ministry leaders, evangelists, pianists, and singers should remember their responsibility and put aside running with titles, doing nothing pertaining to their gifts. Every ordinary person in the ministry has received the gift of eternal life by grace through faith. We are all called to a life of responsibility and there is much demanded of us. God said He would build the church, yes, but we also need to understand that He has from the beginning used people and will continue to use people here on earth. Myles Munroe once said that any spirit operating in this world without using a man is operating illegally.
It is good that we rise up again and begin to seek to know how we will conduct ourselves in the house of faith.
Every noble position in earth comes with obligations. Whenever you are placed in that position you need conduct yourself nobly. Those placed by God to the positions of super power then need also to conduct themselves nobly. God is expecting them to use their nobility and honor to His glory in every way. Those holding positions need know that they are there for God’s glory
Those in church positions have a responsibility to unite, bring joy and peace to the brethren, but not hopelessness and destruction because of their irresponsibility. For every little gift that God gives you He expects something of you.
Responsibility grows as you continue receiving more favor. When we entered into salvation we entered into an area of responsibility. To be forgiven our sins was a different thing but living a responsible Christian life is another thing. If we only concentrate on the salvation we received, preaching only forgiveness of sin, and fail to be taught about Christian responsibility then we will find ourselves living a life of irresponsibility, even after claiming God’s forgiveness. We will then end up with poverty, hunger, frustration, despair and defeat due to our irresponsibility.
Responsibility means that we be doers of the word. In Isaiah 58:3-4, some people wonder why they don’t see power. They question God in their foolishness. They were lifted up to a certain level, but did not do as God expected.
