*** w66 3/1 p. 138 pars. 4-7 Assume Your Christian Obligations *** 4 Having received the benefits of Christ’s ransom sacrifice, we are also obligated to help others get such benefits. “By this we have come to know love, because that one surrendered his soul for us; and we are under obligation to surrender our souls for our brothers.” (1 John 3:16) Yes, in looking after the interests of our brothers and preaching the good news to others we may even bring our freedom and our very lives in danger, but this we are now obligated to do. Further, we received the good news because someone else put forth the effort to preach to us, likely spending many hours in calling back and studying with us. Now we are under obligation to make our contribution to advance the Kingdom work by preaching, by aiding financially and by showing hospitality. “For it was in behalf of his name that they went forth, not taking anything from the people of the nations. We, therefore, are under obligation to receive such persons hospitably, that we may become fellow workers in the truth.”—3 John 7, 8. 5 The apostle Paul said that he was under obligation to preach to those of the nations. “Both to the Greeks and to Barbarians . . . I am a debtor: so there is eagerness on my part to declare the good news also to you there in Rome.” (Rom. 1:14, 15) And speaking of those of the nations who had received the truth from the disciples in Jerusalem, Paul wrote: “Yet they were debtors to them; for if the nations have shared in their spiritual things, they also owe it to minister publicly to these with things for the physical body.” (Rom. 15:27) So Paul knew he was under obligation to preach. He did not sit comfortably back and say he would preach only if and when he felt like it, that his preaching was, after all, only voluntary. His awareness of his obligation moved him to fight against the tendency of the flesh to want to take it easy. He knew that, in order to win life, he had to exert himself vigorously. (Luke 13:24) He showed his sense of obligation when he wrote: “If, now, I am declaring the good news, it is no reason for me to boast, for necessity is laid upon me. Really, woe is me if I did not declare the good news!”—1 Cor. 9:16. 6 But some may argue, “Is not the Bible against obligatory service? Does not Paul also say in this chapter that he would get his reward only if his service was willing, meaning entirely free from any sense of obligation? And, therefore, if one does not feel the urge and desire to preach, is it not in vain to compel himself to do it simply because he knows it is right? Should not the desire come from the heart?” Yes, the desire should come from the heart, but we know that the human heart is often selfish and deceptive. (Jer. 17:9, 10) It often takes much study of God’s Word, many prayers and vigorous exertion on the part of the mind and the will to overcome the selfish tendencies of the flesh. (Rom. 7:18-25) Some Christian witnesses have heard the above-mentioned argument and become discouraged and depressed with their service, some even stopping because they did not feel a natural urge or desire to preach. They feel, if they must discipline themselves to do what is right, it will be in vain. But this is not true. We are obligated to discipline ourselves to avoid the wrong. “So, then, brothers, we are under obligation, not to the flesh to live in accord with the flesh.” (Rom. 8:12) And we must discipline ourselves to do the right by using our power of reason.—Rom. 12:1. 7 But what did the apostle Paul mean at
Posted on: Wed, 10 Jul 2013 23:52:31 +0000