ROMANS 12:1-8

1. EVERY RIGHT IMPLIES A RESPONSIBILITY:
1. As Americans, we enjoy great freedom and many inalienable rights. No other nation on earth has our liberties. But those freedoms, or rights, bring attendant responsibilities.
1. The first amendment guarantees us freedom of speech. But that freedom is abridged by responsibility. We are not allowed to slander or libel others; we are not allowed to commit perjury; we are not allowed to cry "FIRE!" in a crowd when there is no fire!
2. We are free to bear arms - no thanks to the liberals - but we are responsible for how we use them. We are not allowed to shoot them in the city limits or from a roadway or aimlessly and recklessly so that others are endangered.
3. We are free to drive a car if we are licensed, but we are responsible not to violate traffic laws or to run over other people.
2. As Christians we enjoy great freedom and many inalienable rights. No other faith on earth has our liberties. But those freedoms, or rights, also bring responsibilities.
1. We are be free to do any activities which are not forbidden in the New Testament. But we must not be cavalier about that. Paul said, "For instance, one person believes it is all right to eat anything. But another believer who has a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables. Those who think it is all right to eat anything must not look down on those who won't. And those who won't eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them." Romans 14:2, 3 (NLT).
2. He said further, "We may know that these things make no difference, but we cannot just go ahead and do them to please ourselves. We must be considerate of the doubts and fears of those who think these things are wrong. We should please others. If we do what helps them, we will build them up in the Lord. For even Christ didn't please Himself." Romans 15:1-3 (NLT).
3. And "If what I eat is going to make another Christian sin, I will never eat meat again as long as I live - for I don't want to make another Christian stumble." 1 Corinthians 8:13 (NLT).
3. Freedom is not license to do whatever we want, wherever we want, whenever we want, however we want, just because we want to regardless of the impact on others. Freedom is a privilege and a responsibility.
4. Let me tell you about a man who thought he had certain rights and totally, irresponsibly abused them. His name was Art. He believed that as husband, he was head of his home. He was right. But he was also irresponsible. He was a slave driver! He might be watching TV while his wife was doing laundry. He'd holler, "Susie! Bring me a cup of coffee!" And she'd have to drop what she was doing to fulfill his demand. If she was not quick enough or "submissive" enough, he'd teach her a lesson! He'd just whack off the cord to the microwave or mixer or kitchen stove. He had a Biblical right to be head of his home - but not to treat his family like chattel or slaves. What an irresponsible application of his right to lead.

I believe that every right implies a responsibility and I believe that:

2. EVERY OPPORTUNITY IMPLIES AN OBLIGATION:
1. Let me hasten to add this disclaimer first. This does not mean a Christian should never say, "No, I can't do that right now." Nor does it mean that if you are a Christian you have to spend all your time and energy and resources meeting everyone else's needs or demands.
2. But when opportunity comes and is obvious to us and we have the resources, we do have some godly obligation to help as we are able.
1. Solomon said, "Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it's in your power to help them. If you can help your neighbor now, don't say, 'Come back tomorrow, and then I'll help you.'" Proverbs 3:27-28 (NLT).
2. James put it this way, "Share each other's troubles and problems, and in this way obey the law of Christ. ... don't get tired of doing what is good. Don't get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time. Whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone, especially to our Christian brothers and sisters." Galatians 6:2 and 9-10 (NLT).
3. Paul wrote, "So be careful how you live, not as fools but as those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity for doing good in these evil days. Don't act thoughtlessly, but try to understand what the Lord wants you to do." Ephesians 5:15-17 (NLT).
4. And "These things I have told you are all true. I want you to insist on them so that everyone who trusts in God will be careful to do good deeds all the time. These things are good and beneficial for everyone." Titus 3:8 (NLT).
3. Just be available, simply be alert to opportunities, and always be ready to do what the occasion and your resources dictate.
1. If you have opportunity to share Jesus with someone, you have an obligation to do so because He commanded us to make disciples.
2. If you have opportunity to help someone in need, you have an obligation to do so, because Paul said, "When God's children are in need, be the one to help them out." Romans 12:13 (NLT).
3. This is not said to encourage indolent users to take advantage of others. Paul wrote to the Thessalonian church, "Even while we were with you, we gave you this rule: 'Whoever does not work should not eat.' Yet we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and wasting time meddling in other people's business. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we appeal to such people - no, we command them: Settle down and get to work. Earn your own living. And I say to the rest of you, dear brothers and sisters, never get tired of doing good." 2 Thessalonians 3:10-13 (NLT).
4. James words fit, "Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it." James 4:17 (NLT).
4. Clifton Fadiman, in "The Little, Brown Book of Anecdotes", tells a story about Valdimir Nabokov, the Russian-born novelist. One summer in the 1940s, Nabokov and his family stayed with James Laughlin at Alta, Utah, where Nabokov took the opportunity to enlarge his collection of butterflies. One evening at dusk he returned from his day's excursion saying that as he chased a butterfly he had heard someone groaning down by the stream. "Did you stop?" Laughlin asked him. "No, I had to get the butterfly." The next day the corpse of an aged prospector was discovered in what has been renamed, in Nabokov's honor, "Dead Man's Gulch." While people around us are dying, how often we chase butterflies! Such an opportunity implies an obligation.

3. EVERY POSSESSION IMPLIES A DUTY:
1. By duty I don't mean a spirit of weary drudgery. I'm not talking about "I don't want to but I have to" sort of duty. Duty just means work we should perform because it is moral and right. Like the scouts, let us say, "On my honor I will do my best to do my duty." That's a willing commitment to do right.
2. Paul wrote concerning the duty of the rich of this world, "Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and should give generously to those in need, always being ready to share with others whatever God has given them." 1 Timothy 6:18 (NLT). Their possessions included a duty to do good and generous things.
3. Let me show you a stark contrast:
1. The rich fool had so much he said, "'I know! I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I'll have room enough to store everything. And I'll sit back and say to myself, 'My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!'" Luke 12:19 (NLT). He had so much he had to build bigger barns to hold it, but he neglected his duty to those who had empty barns and needed some of it.
2. The Macedonian (Greek) Christians had a Godly sense of duty to people they'd never even met. There was a famine in the province of Judea. These Macedonians heard about it. Here's Paul's report, "Though they have been going through much trouble and hard times, their wonderful joy and deep poverty have overflowed in rich generosity. For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford but far more. And they did it of their own free will. They begged us again and again for the gracious privilege of sharing in the gift for the Christians in Jerusalem. Best of all, they went beyond our highest hopes, for their first action was to dedicate themselves to the Lord and to us for whatever directions God might give them." 2 Corinthians 8:2-5 (NLT). Those who lacked possessions still sensed a duty to share what they did have. How much more those of us who have enough and more?
4. One little boy, Johnny, seemed to sense this. He went to school as usual, and took his sack lunch as usual, too. As he sat down to eat, he noticed another little boy sitting by himself, and eating just a single slice of bread. No jam, no peanut butter, just bread. Johnny walked over to him and said, "Hi, my name is Johnny. My mother sent me too much lunch. Can I share it with you?" The other boy's sad face broke into a toothless grin and his day was turned from one of loneliness and hunger to happiness and satisfaction just because Johnny sensed that his possession implied a duty to help others.

Every one of these principles is unselfish, other-centered, sacrificial, regardful of what is right and good and Christlike. They mean that it is not all about me. They mean that I am not the center of the universe. Jesus Himself lived and died by these principles. He didn't think of His right to stay in Heaven, He emptied Himself to come to die on the cross. He took the opportunity to save us through the cross. He gave up His greatest possession, His very life, to reconcile us to God. For Jesus it is all about you. You are what matters to Him. Now, it doesn't seem too much to ask that we live for Him. May we all determine to live lives that are devoted to serving Him by serving others. Use your rights and opportunities and possessions to help others know, believe, and live for Him, too. This is a moment of decision and dedication. The choice is yours. What will you do with Jesus and His claim on your life?