Rom. 13, RESPONSIBILITY vs. unreliability (2)

The question is: what about our works is of concern to God our Judge?

i)      Jer. 17:10: Was my heart really in it?  What secret thoughts (mind) did I have? 

ii)   1 Cor. 3:8,12-13: For Christians, did I recognize this “work” as an opportunity for ministry and to use my spiritual gift?  We don’t have to do the work of others, but we want to be faithful in doing the thing God gave me to do.

iii)            Prov. 24:11-12: Did this work serve to warn the wicked?  Sometimes we make a “sin of omission” in failing to warn the wicked.

iv) Prov. 25:21-22: Did I remember that I was not to avoid doing good for those who hate me? 

b)    In the following applications of the “law of the harvest” (you reap what you sow) who is accountable and what is the punishment or reward?

	“Who”	“What”
Prov. 1:30-33	The “simple.” Will he listen to or ignore wisdom?	Destruction or safety
Prov. 6:12-15	The “wicked”	Calamity
Prov. 6:27-29	The “adulterer”	He’ll get “burnt,” be held guilty
Prov. 16:5	The “proud”	He’ll be punished

 

c)    To what other “authorities” appointed by God are we responsible?

i)      Prov. 6:20: Our parents (until we leave home).

ii)   Rom. 13:3-4: Governmental leaders.

iii)            Heb. 13:7,17: Church leadership.

iv) 1 Peter 2:18: Our earthly masters (the boss, supervisor, the one that has the position of authority in the workplace).

v)    Matt. 5:33-37: We are responsible to keep our word, to whomever we have given it.

vi) In addition, we know that we also serve our spouse, our enemy, our brothers in Christ and so forth.  We take on responsibility from God when we are told to “love” someone.  In the end, while responsibility to earthly authorities depends on the “job description,” we know that in all things we are accountable to God. 

May I encourage you to memorize Rom. 14:12.