What does the word “duty” mean? Merriam-Webster states that duty is “a moral or legal obligation; a responsibility or a task or action that someone is required to perform.”
So, as Christians, what is our duty? Do we have a duty within the church, the church service, our Christian service in general? Do we have a duty in spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
So, what is our duty? Some people may have a duty within the church to work as a pastor, a Sunday school teacher, as a deacon, or any number of other titles or jobs that we can think of, but what are we to truly do? Various passages of Scripture give us instructions that we are to follow.
In the Book of Deuteronomy, we are told to worship before the Lord our God (Deuteronomy 26:10). In the Book of Matthew, we are told to love the Lord your God and to love your neighbor (Matthew 22:37; Matthew 22:39).
In the Book of Mark, we are told that “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” And to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation” (Mark 8:34; Mark 16:15).
Jesus said that he came to do the will of the Father in John 5:30, and he told us that “If you love me, keep my commands” (John 14:15). Then in John 15, we are told to love one another, go, and bring forth fruit, do whatsoever He commands. The Good Samaritan showed mercy in Luke 10.
In Ephesians 6, we are to be strong in the Lord, put on the armor of God, stand against, praying always.
In 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28, we are to know them which labor among us, esteem them, be at peace among ourselves, warn them, comfort, support, rejoice, pray without ceasing, give thanks, quench not the Spirit, despise not prophesyings, prove all things, abstain from the appearance, and greet all.
Here, Paul calls upon the Thessalonian Christians to treat all their kindred believers with generosity and to do good to each other. Paul advises the believers to be consistently blissful, joyful, and to continue in prayer for one another.
Steady thanksgiving was to be a mark in their lives. Additionally, Paul advises them not to extinguish the Holy Spirit or to have a negative disposition toward prophetic services.
Nonetheless, they should keep a strong handle on the lessons and teachings that they tried and discovered to be true. Paul guides the readers to keep away from each sort of insidious evil.
In 1 Timothy 6:12, we are to “fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”
In 2 Timothy 2:15, we are to “do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”
Life on earth is not a script to a play where we pointlessly carry on. It is a period of choosing whether or not we will live for God and afterward living out what we have chosen.
Since God will analyze what sort of laborers that we have been for him, we should fabricate our lives on his Word and incorporate his Word into our lives.
God’s Word is the thing that reveals to us how to live for him and serve him. Steady and tireless investigation of God’s Word is crucial, else, we will be quieted or lulled into ignoring God and our actual reason for living.
Then in 2 Timothy 4:2,5 we are to “preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage — with great patience and careful instruction” and to “keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.”
What does this be prepared in season and out of season mean? It means we are to always be ready to preach the gospel, whether it is convenient for us or not. And that does not apply only to preaching.
Anything God has called us to do, we should be ready at all times if physically possible. We can live our lives according to his Word and be a witness, we can be a helping hand, or maybe we only need to truly pray for someone or for some situation.
If we have complied with and obeyed God, we have just carried out our responsibility and duty and should see it as a privilege. Do we occasionally feel that we merit additional credit for serving God?
Keep in mind, submission to obedience is not a bonus that we do; it is our obligation, our duty. Jesus is not stating that our service is aimless or pointless, nor is he removing any rewards. He is confronting unjustifiable self-confidence and spiritual pride.
In Luke 17:11-19, 10 lepers were cleansed but only one turned back to give thanks. Why? He realized what had just truly happened. He glorified God and then he gave thanks.
Should not a servant acknowledge his indebtedness to God and find joy in serving? Obedience is our duty. We should continually give thanks for our privilege of duty. We should find and have joy in serving.
We ought not to complain. Do we only do what is required or more? Remember, humility is the groundwork of faith. Even if we receive no thanks for doing our work or for doing our duty, we are to continue anyway.
For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights as a preacher of the gospel (1 Corinthians 9:16-18).
Here in this passage of Scripture, Paul writes that preaching the gospel was his gift and calling, and he said that he was unable to quit his preaching regardless of whether he wanted to.
He was driven by the inward spiritual desire to do what God wanted him to do, by utilizing his gifts and endowments for the glory of God.
What unique endowments or gifts has God bestowed upon us? It is true that we are persuaded, similar to Paul, to respect and honor God with our gifts.
For further reading:
Will We All Be Called by the Lord?
Are all Believers Called to Ministry?
Does the Bible Say Christians Have to Attend Church?
What Is the Meaning of the Body of Christ?
What Does it Mean That Good Works Are the Result of Salvation?
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