THE ACCEPTANCE OF RESPONSIBILITY

W. Lamont

John 15: 9, 10; Revelation 3: 7–11; Numbers 3: 27–32; 2 Timothy 4: 6–8

We like to hear some things more than others—some things we do not like to hear about at all—we love to hear about our privileges but some of us are not so keen to hear about our responsibilities. To illustrate it, some like to be passengers but not so keen to be the crew. I want to speak briefly about the acceptance of responsibility. It is a feature much required today. Christendom is in the state it is in largely because persons have refused to accept responsibility. Things happen in our lives, in the history of the testimony, and

the easy thing is to say, ‘It is nothing to do with me, not my responsibility’. Mr. Darby, when asked what Christian responsibility was, said that Christian responsibility is the responsibility of being a Christian. So, as Christians, we are all responsible. In Revelation chapters 2 and 3, the Lord addresses His word to the angel of each church, that is to the responsible element, and all are responsible. It is very significant that there is no mention of elders in the epistle to the Corinthians—elders are responsible persons, but I think the answer to that is that all were responsible. The house of Chloe took responsibility for the whole condition at Corinth. They could have said, ‘What is happening in this local meeting is no business of mine and I am keeping myself clear’. It is illustrated in Daniel—young people ought to read Daniel’s history carefully—a young man who refused the king’s delicate food; in other words, he refused the elements of the world, and God honoured him for it. At one stage Daniel said, “confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel”, Daniel 9: 20. He was not personally responsible but, before God, he took responsibility for them. We need to take responsibility for the whole history of the testimony. Some have opted out, some have made excuses and said, in effect, ‘It is none of my business’.

In John 15, when the Lord said, “As I have kept my Father’s commandments”, the perfect acceptance of responsibility was seen in the Lord Himself, and the will of God cost Him His life. In Gethsemane He could say, “My Father, if it be possible let this cup pass from me; but not as I will, but as thou wilt”, Matthew 26: 39. For us, the blessedness of accepting responsibility can be known, as Paul says in Romans 12, “that ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God”, (verse 2). God knows what is best for us. I suppose we have all been the same, and those of us who are older passed through a stage in our lives when we thought we knew best; but the will of God is the best for us. His will is perfect because it is of Himself. The word ‘acceptable’ is our side of the matter. It is a wonderful day when we come to it that God’s will is acceptable. It was seen perfectly in Jesus, “But then, not my will, but thine be done”, Luke 22: 42. So, here He says, “as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in His love”. We have been speaking of what is permanent, what will be eternal, of one blessed Man who will abide eternally in His Father’s love. We have the privilege of being brought into the kingdom of the Son of the Father’s love.

In Revelation, in the addresses to the seven churches, the Lord Jesus knew in every detail just what conditions were in every local meeting. There were spiritual conditions in Philadelphia and one feature is brotherly love. It is not optional to love our brethren, it is the Lord’s commandment; part of our responsibility is to love our brethren. Naturally, some persons appeal to us more than others, but it is an obligation to love one another, not as a theory, but in practical expression. So the Lord commends them and says, “Thou hast a little power, and hast kept my word”—that is fulfilled responsibility. In this connection it would be profitable for us all, especially the young people, to understand that there was conflict from 1916 onwards as to fulfilled responsibility. You might say, that is a long time ago, nothing to do with me, but as considering it, you will see the importance of this at the present time.

Another important matter comes in here, “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience”. We need patience in the day in which we live. What patience John needed in the prison alone on the isle of Patmos. He could say, “I John, your brother and fellow-partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and patience, in Jesus”, Revelation 1: 9. I wonder how any one of us would feel if, for the Lord’s sake, we were imprisoned alone on an island—it would test our reality. It is easy to sail in calm waters and to go along as a passenger but, especially in a storm, it is a test to be a member of the crew, it tests the quality of your seamanship. These were difficult times for John but the Lord Jesus drew near to him and showed him many secrets. He gave him a view right through into eternity. So the Lord Jesus commends this assembly, “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience”.

Are we going to give up or are we going to keep the word of His patience? That is the test of the present time. Many have given up. In John 6 many of the disciples went away back and walked no more with Him. They said, “This word is hard, who can hear it?” The pathway was too difficult for them, they wanted an easy way. That has happened to many of our dear brethren, they wanted an easier way, they wanted Christianity but they also wanted the world.

Let us keep the word of His patience; not exactly our patience, it is His patience, and we get strength from Him to continue.

Numbers 3 is speaking of families, showing what God really had in mind, every family in the heavens and on earth named of the Father (Ephesians 3: 14, 15). The Kohathites kept the charge of the sanctuary. I want to apply that simply in that we have a wonderful heritage, and not the least of that heritage is the service of God. The Kohathites’ charge was the ark, and the responsibility as far as in us lies, is to guard the Person of Christ. What a time that was when the truth as to the Lord’s sonship was stated clearly. Now, down to us has come the great matter of the service of God. The greatest privilege and the greatest responsibility that any believer can have today is to answer to the Lord’s request, “This do in remembrance of me”, 1 Corinthians 11: 24. It leads to the great matter of keeping the charge of the sanctuary.

The great light that has come to us is in relation to the service of God, and there is nothing more important. It is a great privilege to have part in it but an equally great responsibility, not only in its terms, but to maintain ourselves in a moral and spiritual state in keeping with it. It is imperative on us. Before us, on the morrow, in the Lord’s will, lies the greatest privilege any human being could have, that is to eat of the loaf and to drink of the cup at the Lord’s supper, but also the greatest responsibility.

In the epistle to Timothy we have an old man at the end of his Christian life, writing to a young man at the beginning of his. Earlier, Paul says to Timothy, “Keep, by the Holy Spirit which dwells in us, the good deposit entrusted”, 2 Timothy 1: 14. We cannot keep these things in our own strength but God supplies us with power to do so and that power lies in the Holy Spirit. As we had this afternoon, “the power that works in us”, Ephesians 3: 20. The epistle to the Ephesians has six chapters, the first three privilege and the second three responsibility, and that responsibility extends right down to our natural relationships—husbands and wives, parents and children, masters and servants—to every area of our lives, all approached from the standpoint of God’s greatest thoughts. So Paul writes to Timothy, “I have kept the faith”. Paul fulfilled his responsibility not saying, ‘I have kept faith’, but ‘I have kept the faith’, that is the whole structure of the truth as revealed to Paul. In responsibility he kept it and passed it on to Timothy and others. He says earlier, “These entrust to faithful men, such as shall be competent to instruct others also”, 2 Timothy 2: 2. It is not exactly to men with ability. Alas, such men have often led God’s people astray. We are thankful for men who have gift but it is only temporary, not permanent. It will not be needed in eternity. The need is for faithful men, such as are competent to instruct others also. Paul infers three generations. Abraham dwelt in tents with Isaac and Jacob, he would not say, ‘Jacob is only my grandson, he is no responsibility of mine’. In contrast, Hezekiah, when he was about to die, asked God for blessing for himself. He had a son to follow him but he did not appear to be concerned about him—he was only concerned about himself—what selfishness! Paul looks, on to the end, “Which the Lord, the righteous Judge will render to me in that day”. The Lord has a perfect assessment of each one of us and of every situation, of every household, of every local meeting. He knows every detail and His judgment is perfect. Ours is never perfect. Sometimes we think we know the answer to every matter but He remains the righteous Judge. Paul says, “Will render to me in that day”. If anyone is looking for reward now it is a great pity. The Lord Jesus Himself is not publicly justified yet, that awaits the coming day. Paul says, “But also to all who love his appearing”. There is a fine distinction between waiting for His appearing and loving His appearing. You can live now in the light of the coming day, when He will come into His rights, when the Sun of righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings (see Malachi 4: 2). What healing is needed among God’s people and it is certainly needed in the world. May God bless the word.

Address at Gothenburg, Sweden
3 August 1991