Children’s Institute Series PART 3: RESPONSIBILITY (Inspired by the IBLP Children’s Institute Curriculum)

      We all have responsibilities. But not all of us take them seriously. In fact, we sometimes do not take responsibility for the things we should be responsible for. When something undesirable happens, we’re quick to point a finger or say “It’s not my fault.” I am often guilty of that. Of course, sometimes it’s true that it’s not our fault. But would we be willing to take responsibility when it is? Going even further, would we be willing to take responsibility for something, even when it’s not our fault, when not doing so would cause further damage?

      I am reminded of a particular scene in the TV show “Horatio Hornblower: The Duchess and the Devil,” in which Captain Hornblower of the English navy and his crew were imprisoned by the French. Some of his crew members were anxious to escape, and so, without Horatio’s permission, they tricked the French guards into opening the prison door and attempted to escape, with their captain forced to join them. It was a brash attempt, and it ultimately ended in failure. They were recaptured, and the French commander interrogated the crew, asking who was responsible for the attempted escape. Horatio Hornblower immediately said, “I am, sir.” The commander was not willing to believe him, knowing that Horatio was too smart for such a brash undertaking that was bound to fail. He asked again, “Who is responsible?” And one of Horatio’s trusted crewmates whispered, “Tell him, Horatio.” And yet, the Captain gave the same answer: “I am, sir.” As a result, he was put into a dark hole in the ground that served as a worse prison than before. Horatio Hornblower, because he was the captain of his crew, took the responsibility for their actions. I am inspired by the leadership and character he displayed.

      Most of us have heard the famous phrase “With great power comes great responsibility.” Though this is true, what we often see in reality is: “With great power comes great IRRESPONSIBILITY.” We may not want to accept the blame for faults because it might negatively affect our position or reputation. Do you think Captain Hornblower would have given the same reply if his officers were the interrogators? Judging by his noble character, I should think so, and that suggests that he was willing to risk a possible demotion for such reckless actions. He was taking on the blame because he was the face of his crew. And so it comes back to us. What answer would we give if we find ourselves in that situation?

      A possible question to bring up at this point would be: wasn’t Horatio lying in the act of taking the blame upon himself unjustly, and aren’t we supposed to tell the truth? Well, if we look at the situation at face value, yes, it would be lying. But looking at Horatio’s position from another perspective, he may actually have a small part in the fault. He was the Captain. The crew reflects the Captain. If you have a good crew, point to the Captain. If you have a bad crew, again point to the Captain. True, Horatio didn’t have control over this particular action of his men, but his position as Captain demands a responsibility that he recognizes.

      I’m learning to take my responsibilities seriously and be true to them, and I believe that God will help me do so. And may God do the same for all of you.

Blessings,
Nathanael

Children’s Institute Series PART 2: AUTHORITY (Inspired by the IBLP Children’s Institute Curriculum)

      Who guides your life? Who decides your path? To whom does your life belong? The obvious answer to these questions that every Christian would give is “God.” But the question that follows would be: Are you living your life as though God were in supreme authority? It is very easy to start living for ourselves and be mostly concerned about our interests and benefits. Is God merely an object of our religion that we just worship every Sunday, or is He the focus of our lifestyles Whose purposes and plans we conform our lives to?

      Matthew 6:24 says, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.” From this verse, we can draw the implication that everyone has a master. Everyone has something or someone they live their lives for. So the question is, who or what is your master? Who or what is the focus of your life? This is an important question to answer because it affects the way we live. If we live for money, that is our master, and the result would be materialism and, possibly, greed. If our master is popularity, then the result would be selfishness and a likely inauthenticity in our lifestyles as we try to project an image that people are attracted to. If we place ourselves as the master of our own lives, then every decision and every action will be done with our best interest in mind, and we may end up elevating man to the level of supremacy over everything. Indeed, this is the first temptation in the history of mankind, that man can take the place of God and determine his own life. And that is when humankind began its moral deterioration. But if we make God the master of our lives, then we will seek His kingdom, His Word, and His will, and He, being the best master we could place ourselves under, would care for us for He knows our needs and would provide for them (Philippians 4:19).

      Brother Yun once said, “If you want to be a person whom God uses, it is vital for you to have a deep revelation of God’s sovereignty and authority.” You see, in order for God to use us, we would have to give Him the control over our lives. Most of us want to be used by God, but not as many are willing to surrender every single part of their lives to Him. Is our faith based on the truth about God, or on our feelings about God?

      So what does it mean to make God our master and to give our whole life to Him? If God is our master, we are His servants. And just as servants do the work and will of their master, so do we do the work and will of our Lord. We will seek His approval and His will for us. To give our whole life to Him would be to make Him the ultimate authority in every aspect of life. From our decisions concerning money to entertainment and music and friends, everything we do would have to be pleasing to God. The Bible even uses the word “slave,” which takes it to another level, where we are actually humble workers and everything we have belongs to the Master. But the great thing is that, unlike what many people think about the life of a servant, we would be joyful in our servanthood, because of the grace and peace of God and our trust in His goodness. And though trials will come our way, we will stand in our faith because of our confidence in the character of God.

      So let this be a continuous challenge for us: to make God the highest authority and ruler of our lives.

Blessings,
Nathanael Chong