Responsibility is the lot of every normal person. Things that have no purpose have no right to exist. When Jesus came across the fig tree that bore no fruit, he cursed it and it died. It was not performing according to its purpose. Just as “to everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven” (Eccles. 3:1), there is a purpose for man. His primary purpose is to “fear God and keep His commandments” (Eccles. 12:13).

You have individual purpose and, thereby, personal responsibility. Your purpose and responsibility are measured by several things: your native personality, your peculiar abilities, your station in life, your opportunities. In fact, all responsibility is ultimately measured by ability and opportunity. Obviously, you can’t do what you have no ability to do, nor can you do what there is no opportunity to do. But when you can, you must.

Here are some things all of us can do. And since we can, we must.

I can pray often. There is a dearth of prayer in the lives of many Christians. We know we ought to pray more. We admit it. We get involved with other things and forget. Would we forget to stay in touch with our children or grandchildren? Would we let our friendships deteriorate because of a lack of attention? See what I mean? It indicates a lack of interest when we don’t pray like we ought. “Pray without ceasing” (I Thess. 5:17) may not be saying we ought to pray continually, but it does say we should do it regularly.

I can be present. I seriously doubt there is one person who actually can’t do more than be present at every service possible, but I have no doubt at all that it’s one thing we all can do. Sometimes you feel tired on Wednesday night and you say to yourself, “I just don’t think I can make it tonight,” but instead of giving in to the temptation to say home, you force yourself and get up and go. After the stimulating Bible study, after the refreshment of spirited singing and praying with those who love God you feel great. I’ve had it happen lots of times. That’s what being together in the local assembly is all about. It stimulates, it refreshes, it edifies.

I can make a contribution. “Oh, now we have to talk about money,” you say. No, let’s talk about time. How much can a person give to the Lord? Can you give Him more than the three or four hours you spend each week at the building? And let’s talk about talent. How much of that have you given to Him? And let’s talk about sacrificial giving, giving where you actually have to make an extra expenditure of time, effort, ability to help someone. There’s lots of giving to be done that has little to do with money.

I can do my best. Now there’s something everybody can do, his best. What is my best? Do I really know? Many of us don’t. We’ve never stopped and asked the question, “can I do better?” That’s hard, isn’t it? But it must be done. Can you give God less than your best? Will He be satisfied with paltry service, with abbreviated time, with less than you can give? We best think about that. God deserves the best we have to offer and we dare not give Him second place in anything we do. “Give diligence to show thyself approved to God,” Paul said (I Tim. 2:15). If I can do better, I must. Can you?

I can watch my tongue. How many problems could be prevented if people would learn to watch what they say, how they say what they say, where they say what they say, and to whom they say what they say. “What they say” is the operative phrase. Every person should made sure that whatever he says about anything, is true. Not hearsay, not what someone said someone said, but truth. James says, “the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity (Jas. 3:6), and “behold how great a forest a little fire kindles!” (Jas. 3:5). Huge conflagrations are started by little, uncontrolled sparks. We best be careful that our one little remark doesn’t start a huge rumor that eventually spreads out of control.

Well, those are some things each of us can do. Isn’t it good we can be together, together to warn and admonish one another, together to enjoy our common faith in Jesus, together to benefit from each other’s warmth and friendliness? Let’s do what we can, OK?

–Dee Bowman