echurch

written by Stephan Joubert

Old English culture was built on the principle of duty. Everyone in society had certain duties that they had to fulfill — an army officer towards his troops, a husband towards his wife, citizens toward governments, members toward their churches, etc. This duty-thing also found its way into South African society. Many things were done purely out of a sense of duty… not necessarily from a deep inner conviction. Men did national service. People fulfilled their religious duty by attending church on Sundays, by making a small monthly contribution to the church, and so forth.

Then came the new and wild 1990′s in South Africa that brought an abrupt end to many of these duties. All of a sudden, everyone wondered where the order and discipline evaporated to. Much of what people saw as order earlier was, however, just the consequences of an outward sense of duty that everyone formally adhered to. True transformation always happens inside people. When you do the things you do for the Lord and others out of love instead of duty, you’re doing them correctly. Duty is only fulfilled when people are driven by authoritarian figures or feelings of guilt — conversely, love always comes from the heart. When you start making the words of Colossians 3 true through doing all you do to the honor of God, then you’ve found the right motivation. Then God’s love and your thankfulness moves you to right living.

The day people get the difference between love and duty, a brand-new organic order shall become visible in our society. Be the first to live it in 2010.

Prayer guidelines

• Thank God for his flooding grace.
• Pray for the heavenly wisdom that will help you discover the difference between duty and love.
• Pray for a society that’s love-driven instead of duty driven.