NO BIBLE NO BREAKFAST DAILY BIBLE REFLECTIONS AND MORE

SCRIPTURE READINGS: EXODUS 33:12-23, 1 THESSALONIANS 1:1-10, MATTHEW 22:15-22

SUNDAY REFLECTION
The theme for our reflection is our social responsibility. Social responsibility is a moral obligation to fulfil one’s civic duty and take actions that benefit society. We shall examine the fact that performing our social responsibility is God’s will and therefore must be done well to promote the nation’s welfare.

Beloved in the Lord, as believers we are citizens of a nation therefore it is God’s will for us to seek the welfare of the nation by performing our social responsibilities. Although the Pharisees had plans to trap Jesus, they acknowledged some facts about Him when they said “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.” (Matthew 22:16) Many Israelites were against the payment of taxes imposed by the Roman Government. The Pharisees wanted to trap Jesus, If Jesus had said payment of taxes to the Roman Government was wrong then He was against the Roman government and an enemy to the emperor but If He said payment of taxes was good then he would have also become the enemies to the Jews who objected to payment of taxes. But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? 19 Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, 20 and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” 21 “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” (Matthew 22:18-21) In other words, Jesus taught them that it is their social responsibility and moral duty to support the ruling government by paying taxes imposed on them. It is for this reason, that Jesus said to Peter in Matthew 17:27, “so that we may not cause offence, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.” Again, just as it is obligatory for a believer or worshipper to offer temple offerings so it is for the same person to pay his taxes to the ruling government. In agreement with Jesus, Paul also admonished the Roman Christians, “This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honour, then honour.” (Romans 13:6-7) It is therefore the will of God for us believers to fulfil our social responsibility by paying taxes to support the government and in return expect the government to fulfill its obligation to the people or citizens of the nation. As Christians, we are to be impactful and live by example in every sphere of life including the fulfilment of our social responsibilities. We are to be imitators of Christ and a model for others to follow. so that the world may learn from us. Paul encouraged the Thessalonian church “You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. 7 And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.” (1 Thessalonians 1:6-7). Apart from imitating Jesus through the welcoming and preaching of the Gospel, we must also follow His direction by fulfilling our social responsibility through giving what belongs to the government to the government even as we offer our lives and “bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God” (Romans 12:1)

It is important to note that apart from paying our taxes as our social responsibility, Jesus imposes on us the moral obligation of caring for the poor and vulnerable as a form of social responsibility. It is for this reason, He said that “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ (Matthew 25:31-36). The Church and for that matter Christians, must be sensitive to the plight of the poor and vulnerable in our society. Recently, the Aksombo hydroelectric Dam spillage has caused great distress, disaster and hardship to communities close to the Volta Lake. Houses have been flooded, farms destroyed and the livelihood of people woefully affected. This is the most crucial time for churches and individuals to discharge their social responsibility by donating food, water, money and shelter to serve as substantial relief and hope to the affected people.

As we perform our social responsibilities, let us pray for godly leaders like Moses who acknowledged that the people he was leading were God’s people therefore he prayed to God, “If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favour with you. Remember that this nation is your people.” 14 The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” (Exodus 33:13-14). In other words, Moses needed the glory or presence of God in His life to be able to lead the Israelites according to the will of God. Our social responsibilities may not yield productive results if we do not have godly leaders to manage the affairs of the nation. We are greatly admonished in Proverbs 29:2 that “When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.“ Again, it is our Christian social responsibility to encourage and pray for other people. Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, “We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers.” (1 Thessalonians 1:2). We must pray for all people including our leaders and seek the welfare of others in the nation.

In summary, we have reflected on the theme “Our social responsibility” We have discovered that unlike many people who try to avoid their social responsibilities, Christians are required to perform their social responsibilities. Performing our social responsibility is God’s will and therefore must be done well to promote the nation’s welfare and our own welfare. May the Holy Spirit grant us the understanding and strength to contribute to the growth and development of our country through the fulfilment of our social responsibilities. Amen.