p. 117 | OUR GREAT RESPONSIBILITY by J. M. Hopkins

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Tuesday, February 24, 1885

FromThe Review and Herald, Vol. 62, No. 8

OUR GREAT RESPONSIBILITY.

By J. M. Hopkins

BY J. M. HOPKINS.

It is a solemn fact, in harmony with reason and revelation, that our duties, responsibilities, and accountability, both to God and man, are proportionate to the knowledge and ability we have to perform. Nay, we are responsible for the opportunities given us to acquire knowledge and ability. This fact was set forth by our Saviour in the parable of the talents. Matt. 25 : 14—30. Those servants who improved upon what God had bestowed were approved and rewarded accordingly; while the servant who slothfully buried his talent, i. e., allowed his time and ability and means to be buried beneath the rubbish of worldly pursuits, regardless of the duties he owed to his Maker and his fellow-men, received condemnation. He failed to receive those blessings which he might have had, and also lost those blessings and opportunities which he already possessed.

It is also a truth that each additional ray of light and truth,—each additional blessing,—proportionately increases our responsibility. It would seem from reading the account of the overthrow of the cities of the plain (Gen. 19) that their inhabitants were about as wicked as it is possible for inhabitants to become. And yet Jesus said, “It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of Judgment than for that city” which should reject the teachings of those twelve whom he sent forth to preach the gospel. And why?—Because his apostles had new truth, additional light which God had prepared for that time, a knowledge of which brought new duties, and a rejection of which brought increased sin. They undoubtedly possessed a knowledge of God’s dealings with Sodom and Gomorrah, the righteousness God required, and the sins for which he destroyed them; and then to reject increased light placed them in a much less favorable condition than they were before, or even more unfavorable than inhabitants of those cities.

Again, Jesus said of those who would not accept his teaching, “If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin;” that is, they would not have been responsible for increased light. “But now,” he continues, “they have no cloak [margin, excuse] for their sin.” John 15 : 22.

This important truth is very forcibly set forth by our Lord as recorded by Luke in his gospel, chap. 12 : 47, 48 : “And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.”

Now if these things are so, what an immense weight of responsibility rests upon God’s chosen people to-day. Never before in the history of the world was there such a flood of light as is shining upon this generation. We have the benefit of the Old Testament Scriptures, which were sufficient to condemn the entire Hebrew nation, as many of them as disobeyed. We have the benefit of the teachings of the Saviour and the history of his miracles. We have the writings of Paul and the history of God’s dealings with his people for many generations. But still more,—we have the light of fulfilling prophecy, the predictions of Daniel and John, supported by numerous other Scriptures which link together, forming a chain of evidence which cannot be broken. In addition to this, we have the “testimony of Jesus,” which comes to us in oft-repeated warnings, reproofs, admonitions, and appeals, correcting individually and collectively, giving timely counsel and advice, encouraging the saddened and disheartened, bringing to our view scenes which will soon be realized by the faithful, and in every way calculated to be an aid and a blessing. We are living when the most solemn warning which ever sounded in the ears of mankind is being given. What, then, must be our position and responsibility? All heaven is intently watching the manner in which we improve the great blessings of truth which God is giving to us. May the Lord help us to see these things as they are; and seeing, may we have courage and strength to perform the work which God requires of us.

Chatfield, Minn.