Our privilege

What is the difference between a privilege and a duty?  Between an honor and a responsibility?  Merriam Webster defines a privilege as "a right or immunity granted as a peculiar advantage, benefit, or favor."  Duties, on the other hand, are defined as "obligatory tasks, conduct, service, or functions that arise from one's position."  Duties and responsibilities, to me, have always had a tinge of unpleasantness to them.  You do it because you have to; it's not something that is always very enjoyable.  Privileges and honors, on the other hand, have a different connotation entirely.  It's something that you want to do, something that brings you joy and favor.

In Korea, it's easy to see the difference between the two.  One of the many duties of parents is to take care of their children - in everything.  They cook for them, they wash their clothes, they give them rides, they apply medicine when needed - even when the children are nearly-grown high-schoolers.  Children, on the other hand, have the responsibility of studying...all the time.  Korean childrens' lives revolve around their education.  They arrive to school early in the morning, and don't leave until nearly midnight - every.single.day.  It's grueling and exhausting, but it's their responsibility, so they do it.

In both of those cases, it's easy to see that duties and responsibilities are not necessarily the funnest things in the world.  It is something that is done because it must be done.  Period, end of story.  There is no other or very little reason to do it.  Privileges, however, can be seen in the lives of the elderly in Korean society.  Because Korea is such a hierarchical society, great value and respect is place upon older people, and they can get away with saying and doing things that would be scandalous coming from a younger person.  

But here is my question.  Do you regard your faith as a privilege or a duty?  Do you consider telling others about Jesus an honor, or a responsibility?  Is it something you do because you want to do it, or because you have to?  Paul said in Philemon that sharing our faith is a privilege; it affords us a realization of just how honored we are to be able to call God Father.  Do you realize just how blessed and loved you are?  Has it penetrated your core, so that it spills out of you and you just have to tell someone else about it?  Or is it simply another item on your checklist of things that you are expected to do?

Philemon 1:4-7

 ⁴ I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, ⁵ because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. ⁶ I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.  ⁷ Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.