Blessings and Responsibilities

by Micky Galloway

“And that servant, who knew his lord's will, and made not ready, nor did according to his will, shall be beaten with many (stripes); but he that knew not, and did things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few (stripes). And to whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required: and to whom they commit much, of him will they ask the more” (Luke 12:47-48 ). These verses conclude the paragraph which began in verse 42, a paragraph which was begun in response to Peter's question concerning the ones to whom the Lord had spoken the parable recorded in verses 31-40. In these verses Jesus did not answer Peter's question directly; rather He answered in such a way as to show that those who have heard the Lord's teachings are in a sense like a servant who has received his master's instructions. Such a servant has the obligation to carry out his master's instructions. Verses 47 and 48 are sometimes used to prove that there will be degrees of punishment after the judgment. In reality, it seems that the beating with many or few stripes refer primarily to the nature of the judgment itself – some are held accountable for more because they have been the recipients of more. Our purpose in introducing these verses is not to get us bogged down in a discussion regarding degrees of punishment, but rather it is to stress the principle set forth in verse 48 - “to whom much is given much is required…” By way of application, we are affirming that local church membership makes us the beneficiaries of great blessings; thus it also makes us liable for great responsibilities.

Blessings of Membership in a Local Church

It is a blessing to worship with others of “like precious faith” (cf. II Peter 1:1). The early Christians benefited much from these times of worship together (Acts 2:42; Hebrews 10:25). The Lord's supper was observed in these assemblies (Acts 20:7; I Corinthians 11:20,33). Teaching and admonition also characterized these times together (Acts 20:7; cf. Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16). All things that we do together are to be done unto edifying (I Corinthians 14:26).

It is a blessing to know that I am loved and that people want to help me. Paul spoke of those in Laodicea being “knit together in love” (Colossians 2:2). Peter said, “Seeing ye have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth unto unfeigned love of the brethren, love one another from the heart fervently” (I Peter 1:22). That means that physically I will never be without the necessities of life (I John 3:17-18), but more importantly, if I falter in my spiritual walk and my soul is in jeopardy, my loving brethren will gently try to restore me to faithfulness (cf. Galatians 6:1-2; James 5:19-20).

It is a blessing to sound out the word to others. Paul commended the local church in Thessalonica, “For from you hath sounded forth the word of the Lord, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith to God-ward is gone forth; so that we need not to speak anything” (I Thessalonians 1:8). Yes, as I can, I as a Christian should teach others. But in the local church, through the treasury supplied by all, I can be a part of sounding out the word over a vast area. In this way fruit can abound to my account (Philippians 4:16-17).

It is a blessing to partake of genuine friendship. Jesus said of the apostles, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do the things which I command you. No longer do I call you servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I heard from my Father, I have made known unto you” (John 15:13-15). My best friends are in the church - people who weep as I weep, who rejoice as I rejoice (cf. Romans 12:15).

Responsibilities of Local Church Membership

For various reasons, people in our society are being conditioned not to accept personal responsibility for their own actions. Illustrations are many: the Calvinistic doctrine of original sin and the doctrine of predestination and foreordination, Atheism which mentally eliminates the necessity of human accountability, Humanism which is based upon Atheism and Evolution, and which denies the existence of any absolute moral standard. However, the fact of human accountability necessitates the fact of human responsibility (cf. Genesis 1:27; Romans 14:12). As a member of a local congregation I have some responsibilities.

I am responsible to worship God (John 4:24; Matthew 4:10; Revelation 19:10) with an attitude of gladness (Psalms 122: 1), reverence (Habakkuk 2:20), humility (Luke 18:13), and of submission to the will of God (Matthew 26:39). I am responsible to attend the times of worship when the local church comes together. This is one of the ways I help edify others. Hebrews 10:24-25 still says, “and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works; not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting (one another); and so much the more, as ye see the day drawing nigh.”

I am responsible to maintain harmonious relationships. Please read I Thessalonians 5:12-14. We are to: “know them that labor…, esteem them highly in love…, be at peace…, warn the unruly…, comfort the faint-hearted…, support the weak…, be patient.”

We are responsible to give of our means. New Testament churches were instructed, “Upon the first day of the week let each one of you lay by him in store, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come” (I Corinthians 16:2; cf. II Corinthians 8:6-7). Though this was a personal responsibility, monies were to be collected into a common treasury with weekly regularity through which the local church did its collective work.

We are responsible to maintain proper conduct, both morally and doctrinally. Paul taught, “For the grace of God hath appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us, to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly and righteously and godly in this present world” (Titus 2:11-12). If we do not take responsibility to live “soberly and righteously and godly,” it casts a negative reflection upon the local church and greatly hinders the gospel. Paul cautioned Timothy, “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an ensample to them that believe, in word, in manner of life, in love, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give heed to reading, to exhortation, to teaching … Take heed to thyself, and to thy teaching. Continue in these things; for in doing this thou shalt save both thyself and them that hear thee” (I Timothy 4:12-13,16).

We are responsible to support the action of the church when it has exercised scriptural discipline. Paul actually commanded, “in the name of our Lord Jesus, ye being gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus, to deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus” (I Corinthians 5:4-5). This action was effective to cause repentance when consistently applied by all (cf. II Corinthians 2:6).

We are responsible to pray for the saints. James instructs, “Confess therefore your sins one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The supplication of a righteous man availeth much in its working” (James 5:16). Paul was continually thankful for his brethren (Please read – Romans 1:8; I Corinthians 1:4; Ephesians 1:15f; Philippians 1:3; Colossians 1:3f; I Thessalonians 1:2; 2:13; II Thessalonians 1:3; 2:13; Philemon 4). Paul further stated, “Pray without ceasing” (I Thessalonians 5:17).

Our responsibilities as members of a local church are many and varied. We should take them seriously and do our best to honor our obligations. But our blessings as members of a local church, are so many and so great that no person should be negligent. Paul wrote in Romans 12:10-11, “In love of the brethren be tenderly affectioned one to another; in honor preferring one another; in diligence not slothful; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.”