WHAT IS OUR DUTY? Part 4
Beyond our Normal Selfish Lives

“Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find SO DOING”
(Matthew 24:46).

We discover the rest of the “duty” Scriptures today:

1. KEEPING THE “DAILY DUTY” IN MY HOME

2 Chronicles 8:14: “And he appointed to the order of David his father, the courses of the priests to their service and the Levites to their charges, to praise and minister before the priests as the duty of every day required.”

Ezra 3:4 also talks about the daily duties of the priests where they “offered the daily burnt offerings by number, according to the custom, as the duty of every day required.”

God ordained the morning and evening daily sacrifice. They also had to attend to the fire upon the brazen altar every morning and evening, to light the lamps every morning and evening, and to light the sweet incense every morning and evening. Among other things these were their daily duties.

God ordained the morning and evening principle back in tabernacle days which is good for us to continue each day. We keep the fire burning in our homes as we establish the family altar morning and evening (not a literal altar, but a gathering together as a family to read God’s word and pray). Any less is not enough to keep the fire burning. Any less is not enough to keep the light shining. That’s why we need to come before the Lord as a family every morning and evening to read God’s Word and to cry out to Him.

Can I remind you of the words in this one little Scripture in Ezra 3:4?

“custom” – it was not a haphazard thing; it was a habit!

“duty” – it was not something they did if they felt like it; they saw it as a daily duty!

“every day” – it was a daily commitment!

“required” – God required it!

Our family altar is a duty, but when God is truly No. 1 in our lives, it will be our greatest delight and the most “longed for” times of each day.

Albert Barness writes: “It is possible to deny the faith by conduct as well as words; a neglect of doing our duty is as real a denial or Christianity as it would be to openly renounce it.”

2. UNWORTHY SERVANTS SIMPLY DOING OUR DUTY

Do you remember the parable Jesus told of the hard-working servant? After ploughing in the field all day and tending to the sheep he comes in ready to sit down and relax. How nice! No, instead, without a word of thanks his master tells him to put on his apron, prepare his meal, and serve him. “Then you can eat later,” he says. You can read the story in Luke 17:7-10.

With the “demanding our rights” and “entitlement” attitudes many people have today, this parable would make them very upset! Many folks would like to eliminate the word “duty” from their vocabulary. Very few know the meaning of “going the second mile.” Employees clock out the moment time is up. They couldn’t give their employer one minute more of their time!

But Jesus is sharing a very important discipleship truth. If we truly are a disciple of Jesus, He will be our Master. Conversely, if He is our Master, we will truly be an obedient and submissive servant. That’s the relationship of a master and slave. And this is the relationship of a disciple. There are many who confess they are Christians but how many are disciples?

Half the parables Jesus told were about servants, which the people understood, because servants and slaves were part of the culture at that time. Paul and other disciples of Christ confessed that they were slaves of Christ. It’s the Greek word “doulos” and means “one who is in a permanent relation of servitude to another, his will altogether consumed in the will of the other.”

How does this affect us in the home? Much of what we need to do in our homes each day are duties and obligations. To keep a home running smoothly and efficiently and to keep a family fed and nourished takes time, planning, and WORK. And often it is the same thing every day. Life is spiced with adventures and parties, but the foundation is duty. It’s how the world keeps going.

Can we accept our duties with joy? Let’s see them as what they really are—productive, powerful, and impacting lives and generations to come. It’s often the mundane, habitual things of life that add up to being powerful.

Can we say with Luke 17:10: “So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.’”

Will the Lord find us “doing our duty” when He comes?

PRAYER:

“Dear Father, Thank you for teaching me that duty is the life of a disciple. I want to be more than a believer. I want to be a true disciple. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

I’m not afraid of duty. It is part of my delightful lifestyle.