I Have a Duty… to others.

A little while ago, I talked about duty to God. This is a big duty, and it is definitely the most important, but I have other duties as well. First and foremost of these is a duty to others. But what does that mean? What is a duty to others? Scripture tells us that we as men have responsibilities to others. Three of these are:

Spiritual Leadership of the family

Providing for the family

Protecting the family

These are not all of our duties to others, but just a few. It’s a difficult thing to accept these duties. If I have to worry about taking care of the needs of others, when do I get to take care of my own needs? In taking care of others, we are given the ability to take care of ourself. When I work to provide a roof over my family’s head, I also put a roof over my own head. In putting food on the table, I put food on my table. When I protect my family, while I may place myself a risk in the act of protection, I increase my own safety as well. When I spend time in spiritual development of my family, I spend time in my own spiritual development.

In following our duty to others, we also follow our duty to God. He has given us these duties to others. Will you accept your duty?

 

A Funny Thing About Duty.

It’s a funny thing about duty. It doesn’t matter what you do, it sticks with you. I’ve learned about duty my whole life. At the age of 6, I became a Tiger Cub, and I learned the Cub Scout Promise. Here it is for those of you who never nearned it:

I, <Paul>, promise to do my best to do my duty to God and my country, to help other people, and to obey the law of the pack.

And only a few years later, at 11 I became a Boy Scout, learning a whole new oath:

On my honor, I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law, to help other people at all times; To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.

Here, I want to point out, the Boy Scout oath is usually considered 3 oaths:

1. Duty to God and Country
2. Duty to other people
3. Duty to self

I lived these oaths for 7 years until I was awarded with Eagle Scout just before my 18th birthday. Just 2 years later I shipped to Basic Combat Training at Fort Benning, Ga. and learned a whole new promise. I made an even more binding oath, this one didn’t say “duty” but it is definately implied.

I, (NAME), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.

I also had to learn the Army Values

Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage

Notice the second one there. Duty. Seems it won’t leave me alone. So what is my duty? All of these mention God, so I’m pretty sure He figures in. Over the next few days I’m going to examine a few duties which we as Christian men have. God gives us clear direction of several duties. Keep an eye out for my next few posts.

Here’s a shot from my Army days while I lived under that last oath.

Until the Whole World Knows,

Paul