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The Bible has principles of
responsibility. It says “every one of us shall give account of himself to
God” (Rom. 14:12). Jesus stated,
“…every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in
the day of judgment” (Matt. 12:36). We
won’t be able to get out of standing responsible for our word and actions
before God.
In today’s world it is all too easy
for people to duck responsibility. But
the Bible gives us this great principle: “Be
not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also
reap”(Gal. 4:7). We cannot help
but reap what we sow in words and actions and even thoughts!
The laws God gave to Israel
show us the principles of duty and social responsibility.
Let’s notice. If an ox
gored a man or woman to death the ox had to be stoned but the owner was to be
held innocent. UNLESS the ox had
been in the habit of goring and the owner was warned about this.
If he were warned, he should have taken appropriate action to protect
others from harm from an ox that was in the habit of charging and goring.
If he didn’t, here is what the law specified:
“If, however, the bull has had the habit of goring and the owner has
been warned but has not kept it penned up and it kills a man or woman, the bull
must be stoned and the owner also must be put to death (Exodus 21:28 NIV).
In a similar law, if one ox gored
another just impulsively the dead animal was to be split and the live animal
sold and the money divided between the two owners of the oxen.
But “if it was known that the bull had the habit of goring, yet the
owner did not keep it penned up, the owner must pay, animal for animal, and the
dead animal will be his” (Ex. 21:35-36 NIV).
A person who digs a pit has the
obligation to cover it so that no one falls in it.
This is true today in front of your house where people walk.
If a person were to fall in it the owner would be liable for damages.
Here’s the law: “…the owner of the pit must pay for the loss” (Ex.
21:33-34 NIV).
You just can allow your animal
to graze in another person’s field. You
must make it good. Here’s the
law: If a man grazes his livestock in a field or vineyard and lets
them stray and they graze in another man's field, he must make restitution from
the best of his own field or vineyard (Ex. 22:5 NIV). Would this apply to your children if they were to ruin
property of a neighbor? Would it
apply if your pet ruined the flower bed of your neighbor?
If a person stole an ox or sheep the law was specific to make that person make restitution. If the specific ox or sheep was caught with him/her s/he would have to pay double. But, if it couldn’t be recovered then it was 5 oxen for one ox and 4 sheep for one sheep. See Ex. 22:1-4. God’s laws show we should be responsible. Let’s learn that lesson!
-- David L. Antion