Can you comment on duty?
Introduction. Duty and responsibility are terms many will not accept. In fact, many problems affecting this country are the result of people not accepting responsibility, from exploding national debt and rising crime rates to unwanted pregnancies and broken families. God created man as a responsible being. AndI would submit that an awareness of God enhances man's sense of duty.
Man has civil duty. God recognizes civil government (Rom. 13: 1-7). In fact, civil government is "ordained of God (vss. 1-2). Man as a citizen has the duty to obey the laws of the government and to pay taxes (Ibid., see Acts 5: 29 for the exception). Law-breakers are not accepting their duty in this regard.
Duties in the domestic realm. Marriage is a relationship which rebounds with duty. The husband and wife typically vow "for better or worse, until death parts us." All the divorce plaguing this country is the result of a failure to perform duty (Matt. 19: 3-9). Furthermore, marital quality is a duty of both the husband and wife (Eph. 5: 22-33). Parents have duties toward their children. They have the lofty duty of "bringing them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord" (Eph. 6: 4). Children have the duty of "obeying their parents" (Eph 6: 1).
Man has duty to others in general, to himself, and to his God. Man's duty to others can be summed up in the "Golden Rule" - do unto others as you would have them do unto you (Matt. 7: 12). Man has the duty of "saving himself" (Acts 2: 40). The wise man declared, "...Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man" (Eccl. 12: 13).
Conclusion. As man realizes his God-designed nature and status, he is more likely to exercise his duty. Rest assured, man will give an account of how he addressed his duties (Rom. 2: 6-11). The acceptance of duty shows maturity and strength of character. I believe all agree we need more recognition of duty.
Man has civil duty. God recognizes civil government (Rom. 13: 1-7). In fact, civil government is "ordained of God (vss. 1-2). Man as a citizen has the duty to obey the laws of the government and to pay taxes (Ibid., see Acts 5: 29 for the exception). Law-breakers are not accepting their duty in this regard.
Duties in the domestic realm. Marriage is a relationship which rebounds with duty. The husband and wife typically vow "for better or worse, until death parts us." All the divorce plaguing this country is the result of a failure to perform duty (Matt. 19: 3-9). Furthermore, marital quality is a duty of both the husband and wife (Eph. 5: 22-33). Parents have duties toward their children. They have the lofty duty of "bringing them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord" (Eph. 6: 4). Children have the duty of "obeying their parents" (Eph 6: 1).
Man has duty to others in general, to himself, and to his God. Man's duty to others can be summed up in the "Golden Rule" - do unto others as you would have them do unto you (Matt. 7: 12). Man has the duty of "saving himself" (Acts 2: 40). The wise man declared, "...Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man" (Eccl. 12: 13).
Conclusion. As man realizes his God-designed nature and status, he is more likely to exercise his duty. Rest assured, man will give an account of how he addressed his duties (Rom. 2: 6-11). The acceptance of duty shows maturity and strength of character. I believe all agree we need more recognition of duty.