Rights versus Responsibility

This picture of Stalin is my substitute for one of Caesar.

Bill Gothard says, "When we focus on our rights, it produces rebellion. When we focus on our responsibilities, it produces revival."

Talk about counter-cultural!!

I love this country. I love the freedoms we enjoy. I can't even imagine what it is like to live without freedom. 


And that is a huge problem!

Because I can't imagine it, I easily take it for granted. And that is when it can be taken away.  But that topic is for another discussion.


Because I have only known freedom, I can easily slip into believing it is my right. And that is when the slope becomes slippery. If I believe I have a right to something, my natural response in human wisdom is to fight to defend that right. "It's MINE! Give it back!" 

When that "right" is denied me by the authority in place over me, my automatic response would be to allow a spirit of rebellion to take root in my heart. As usual "automatic" means not Christ-like.

Romans 13: 1-7
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

Matthew 22:15-22

    Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. "Teacher," they said, "we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are. Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"

   But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, "You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax." They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?"

   "Caesar's," they replied.
      Then he said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."

    When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.

Why were they amazed? Because Jesus was not focusing on His "rights". And if anyone was entitled to, He certainly was. Even though the political authority in place over Jesus was not just, let alone godly, the Savior of the world submitted to his authority. Am I ever justified in having a spirit of rebellion? 

That's what I have, though, when I focus on my "rights".

Shift gears here and examine the fruit produced when I focus on my responsibilities. What does my heart look like when I am focused on the jobs I have been given by the Lord? When I know in my spirit that I am spending myself on what He has given me to do, the fruit is joy and peace and humility before a Mighty God. That produces revival in my spirit.

When I move past the need to defend myself to the place of obedience to whatever He calls me to, I can walk under even unjust authority in a way that brings Him glory.

What does that tell me about the words of my mouth in regards to those in authority over me? If I truly believe I am to be subject to those authorities, not when they ask me to do something wrong, but when my "rights" are being trampled, then my words should show proper respect for the position of authority held even when the character of the person holding that position is not worthy of respect.

Don't I expect this behavior of my children? I expect them to show me respect, even though they know me. They know I am a sinner. But, they are to show the position I hold the respect that the Lord requires. Even when I violate their "rights." Their true submission brings them the blessing of revival in their spirits.

Don't you love the way the principles of the Lord work?