Privilege and Responsibility

God through the prophet Amos reminded Israel of the great privilege they enjoyed as God’s chosen people. He said, “You only have I known of all the families of the earth.” (Amos 3:2) It all started with their forefather Abraham and was later confirmed at Mount Sinai. God said to them, “Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people.” (Exodus 19:5) What a privilege to be God’s special people!

 

But with privilege comes responsibility. It was expected of Israel that they obey the voice of God and keep his covenant. But they did not. And so the rest of the statement from Amos was a pronouncement of punishment: “Therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.” (Amos 3:2)

 

Today we Christians are God’s special people. “Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people.” (1 Peter 2:9) But let us not forget that with privilege comes responsibility—responsibility to love and obey God.

 Claude