duty

The book of Ecclesiastes paints a grim picture of life, and the end doesn’t really change that. After all his studying and seeking and experimenting, here’s what the author concludes, in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14: “Now all has been heard;
    here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
    for this is the duty of all mankind.
14 For God will bring every deed into judgment,
    including every hidden thing,
    whether it is good or evil.”

I don’t think Americans like the idea of duty – it’s a have-to imposition, not a want-to choice. Duty is seen as onerous. To see our Christian walk as duty seems to separate it completely from joy.

But I was a soldier for a while, and soldiers know about duty. Soldiers swear a vow; officers live by the motto “Duty, honor, country.” Soldiers willingly embrace the concept of duty because it’s the thing that’s bigger than they are. A life of duty is a life of discipline, a life given to the greater good, a life that puts self last. Duty is that thing that enables soldiers to sweat in training, to bleed in war, to die if necessary. Duty steels them to stay at their posts, or to move forward into danger. It’s this idea that there is a thing out there worth more than your own life. Duty gives meaning to service.

Certainly a duty toward God is the highest possible calling. He has a claim on us, there’s no doubt of that. This call to fear him and keep his commandments is no more than he deserves for saving my soul.

There is, however, a down side to duty. There are serious penalties for failure to carry it out; dereliction of duty carries severe punishment. God, these verses say, will bring every deed into judgment; the good will be rewarded and the bad will stand against me until Jesus steps up and says, “Those sins are atoned for, remember? This man is one of mine.” So . . . no penalty at all. Just the privilege of service, the joy of a life filled with meaning.

Duty is a fine thing after all.