"But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required : and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more." Luke 12:48
Those who live in the United States are blessed by God more than those living in most other countries. We have Bibles available online [and access to computers on which to view them], and Bibles available in the new and used bookstores, and Bibles available in the libraries. If we want to own a Bible and do not have money to spare, almost any community has church groups that will give them one without charge.
We also have a mutitude of church organizations teaching nearly every conceivable intrepretation of the Bible. We have schools mandated to provide education to every child [in spite much of it being probably mostly on the secular side these days].
Among us here in this country who are so richly blessed there are, of course, great differences in the blessings available to different people for different reasons. Some of the reasons are racial. Some of the reasons are due to accidentally being born in better circumstances materially or even spiritually than others. For example, some are born to parents who already are serving God in some measure, while others are born to parents who are very outspoken atheists.
Without even considering all of these differences among us here in these United States, there are still more and/or greater opportunities here than those that exist in most other countries in the world. We have more freedom to worship God in the right way or even in the wrong way [wrong according to God] than exist in most other places in the world; or even not to worship Him at all.
Yes, we are blessed, but our blessings lay upon each of us a greater responsibility in our own walk with God than is laid upon those who are less fortunate than us in their opportunities.
Having considered all of the blessings I have mentioned and those also that I have not mentioned, let us look again at the verse I quoted at the start of the OP:
"But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required : and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more." Luke 12:48
Considering our blessings by etiher being born in the United States or of having immigrated to the United States [legally or not], and the enboldened portion of the cited verse, what should we suppose that God would expect from us?
In the Christian underground of mainland China [and in many other countries] people are literally risking their lives to serve the God we may here so serve without much fear of physical punishment. Would any of us be willing to do the same if we were presented such a choice as the Chinese Christians [and others], instead of being so blessed as to be residents of the United States?
Many may want to jump up and say I would not deny the Lord , no matter what. Isn't this what the apostles following Jesus also proclaimed before He was taken away? When He was taken away, where were they? When and if our comparitive physical safety were taken away from us, would we have enough of the power promised in Acts 1:8 to stand for Him no matter what?
We have been given so much! How much is He requiring of us? If He asks more from us, how much will be too much?
Remember this young man:
"Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.
Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions." Mark 10: 19-22
He went away sad, and it wasn't even his physical life that he was required to sacrifice!
Those who live in the United States are blessed by God more than those living in most other countries. We have Bibles available online [and access to computers on which to view them], and Bibles available in the new and used bookstores, and Bibles available in the libraries. If we want to own a Bible and do not have money to spare, almost any community has church groups that will give them one without charge.
We also have a mutitude of church organizations teaching nearly every conceivable intrepretation of the Bible. We have schools mandated to provide education to every child [in spite much of it being probably mostly on the secular side these days].
Among us here in this country who are so richly blessed there are, of course, great differences in the blessings available to different people for different reasons. Some of the reasons are racial. Some of the reasons are due to accidentally being born in better circumstances materially or even spiritually than others. For example, some are born to parents who already are serving God in some measure, while others are born to parents who are very outspoken atheists.
Without even considering all of these differences among us here in these United States, there are still more and/or greater opportunities here than those that exist in most other countries in the world. We have more freedom to worship God in the right way or even in the wrong way [wrong according to God] than exist in most other places in the world; or even not to worship Him at all.
Yes, we are blessed, but our blessings lay upon each of us a greater responsibility in our own walk with God than is laid upon those who are less fortunate than us in their opportunities.
Having considered all of the blessings I have mentioned and those also that I have not mentioned, let us look again at the verse I quoted at the start of the OP:
"But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required : and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more." Luke 12:48
Considering our blessings by etiher being born in the United States or of having immigrated to the United States [legally or not], and the enboldened portion of the cited verse, what should we suppose that God would expect from us?
In the Christian underground of mainland China [and in many other countries] people are literally risking their lives to serve the God we may here so serve without much fear of physical punishment. Would any of us be willing to do the same if we were presented such a choice as the Chinese Christians [and others], instead of being so blessed as to be residents of the United States?
Many may want to jump up and say I would not deny the Lord , no matter what. Isn't this what the apostles following Jesus also proclaimed before He was taken away? When He was taken away, where were they? When and if our comparitive physical safety were taken away from us, would we have enough of the power promised in Acts 1:8 to stand for Him no matter what?
We have been given so much! How much is He requiring of us? If He asks more from us, how much will be too much?
Remember this young man:
"Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.
Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions." Mark 10: 19-22
He went away sad, and it wasn't even his physical life that he was required to sacrifice!
