Every right implies a responsibility; every opportunity, an obligation; every possession, a duty

"Woe to you, destroyer, you who have not been destroyed! Woe to you, betrayer, you who have not been betrayed! When you stop destroying, you will be destroyed; when you stop betraying, you will be betrayed". Isaiah 33:1 N.I.V

John D. Rockefeller, Jr. said, “I believe that every right implies a responsibility; every opportunity, an obligation; every possession, a duty”.   However some people believe that their power and wealth makes them entitled to take whatever they want according to their own rules. They lead a decadent life marked with impunity.

A young man who had suddenly become extremely rich was reputed to carelessly trample on hawkers wares and just as carelessly toss more than enough money to compensate for their wares. They would be left seething but he did not care. He did not live long and died in a bitter domestic fracas.

Similarly in Bible times, Sechem son of Prince Hamor of the Hivite Kingdom violated Dinah the daughter of Jacob and Leah, and thought that his offer to marry her more than made up for the atrocity. (Genesis 34). Jacob’s sons were incensed and successfully plotted to kill the Hivite men and plunder their Kingdom.

We are surrounded by many who destroy others with impunity. But let us be mindful of our duties, obligations and duties to others, otherwise our day of destruction will come, here and in the hereafter.

Be mindful of what you have and use it to bless others and not to gain impunity.

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The problem of power is how to achieve its responsible use rather than its irresponsible and indulgent use - of how to get men of power to live for the public rather than off the public. Robert F. Kennedy

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