What are you doing with the privileges that you have been given!

" by Bisi Oladipupo"

All you need to do is look around, and you must agree that some people have privileges that others do not have. I read a very
sad account a few days ago About 87 migrants from Niger died of  thirst. What happened? They got rapped in the Sahara desert and died due to lack of water.
 
I do not claim to have all the answers, far be  from it. Nevertheless we can learn from scripture. Lets have a look at this account!

Matthew 11: 20 -  24
 
20 Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of  his mighty works were done, because they repented not:

 21 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the  mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

 22 But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.

 23 And thou, Capernaum,  which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty  works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.

 24 But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of  judgment, than for thee.


The above tells us that certain things we have and what we re exposed too, is a privilege and not a right. It also means, that
we have a responsibility, and we will give account for what we know, and what privileges the Lord brought our way.

 
Lets pay close attention to the above. I will  paraphrase:

 
Chorazin and Bethsaida had mighty works done in them, yet they did not repent. The Lord says here that if those same works were done in Tyre and Sidon they would  have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. Which simply means that Tyre and Sidon did not have  the privilege that Chorazin and Bethsaida  had.
 
Now look at verse 22. Because of the advantages  that Chorazin and Bethsaida had and Tyre and Sidon did not have. At the day of judgement, it  will be more tolerable i.e. bearable for Tyre and Sidon that  they!
 
The same applies to Capernaum and Sodom. 
  
We must be grateful for what we have been exposed too when it comes to the gospel and apply ourselves to it. 
 
 
I remember l heard an account of a son/daughter  complaining to her mum. This child was brought up in a Christian family. Well
mum, when anyone talks in class, the teacher does not notice or pick on it. But when l talk during lessons l get told off and punished. The mums response was ' because you know better'.
 
How careful we need to be. Lets be honest with what we know, what we have been exposed too, and apply ourselves to it. It is a
privilege and not a right!


 

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