Relationship Responsibilities

All of life is made up of relationships and with each of those relationships there are certain responsibilities. Personal relationships we have involve different levels of responsibility. We have less responsibilities with a friend versus a spouse or a child. We have different responsibilities in each relationship with the person and with God. God will hold us accountable for the part we have in each relationship, and if those we have relationship with feel we are not doing our part, they will hold us accountable as well. They may hold us accountable by having a discussion with us or they may hold us accountable by not engaging in relationship with us in the future. Parents have a responsibility to care for their children and children have the responsibility to cooperate with their parents to listen, learn, and obey. Even in distant family relationships and friendships, there is the responsibility of being kind and engaging in order to maintain healthy relationships. Not only in family and friendship, but even in work we have relationships that also have responsibilities. Those we work with have expectations of us as a co-worker, and those we work for have expectations of us as well. The work connection is the relationship and the expectations are the responsibilities and the keeping or losing of the job is the benefit or consequence of maintaining the relationship responsibilities or not. Even as citizens in a country, we have a relationship with responsibilities to our nation as a citizen. We need to contribute to society not just be a taker from it. We need to have a job, so we can pay our taxes, so we can help with the expenses of our nation. We may be called up for military service, and we should see it as our duty to serve and not try to run from service. We need to be a voice in our nation and a positive influence by voting and speaking to our elected officials about the decisions they make on our behalf. We need more people who are good and even godly who would be willing to serve in public office, in civil service, or even volunteering in things that help the community function. Even in church membership, there is another relationship that has responsibilities for which we will answer to God. When we become a member of a church, we are committing to be involved, engaged, and supportive of the ministry and work of the ministry. It is up to the membership of the church to faithfully attend, financially support, and physically serve in the ministry of the church. Most churches would be healthier and more effective if every member took their responsibility of the relationship of member more seriously. In fact, every relationship we have would be better if we all took to responsibilities of those relationships more seriously.