Taking Responsibility

(1)

Much is required from those to whom much is given.
Luke 12:48


Responsibility is a two-sided coin. On one side is responsibility, on the other side is reward.
Too many of us are focused on one side of the coin only - reward.

Taking responsibility means three things:
(1) Acknowledging what you are responsible for.
(2) Acknowledging who you are responsible to.
(3) Acting responsibly at all times.
All the excuses you give yourself, and others, won't let you off the hook.
Jesus said, "Much is required from those to whom much is given."

At their annual conference the manager of a dog food company asked his sales team how they liked the company's new advertising programme. "Great!" they replied, "the best in the business."
"What do you think of the product?" he asked. "Fantastic" they replied.
"How about the sales force?" he asked. They were the sales force, so of course they responded positively saying they were the best. "Okay then," the manager said, "so if we have the best brand, the best packaging, the best advertising programme and the best sales force, why are we in seventeenth place in our industry?"
After an awkward silence one of the salesmen shouted,
"It's those dogs - they just won't eat the stuff!"
Guess what?
Your problem is not the dogs, or your job, or your spouse, or society at large, or whatever.
Be honest, your biggest challenge in life is you.
If your life's not going the way you want it to, you are responsible for changing it.
And God will help you if you turn to Him.
But you must want to change, decide to change, and work each day towards that end.

(2)

A man reaps what he sows.
Galatians 6:7

Our values today are badly messed up. We overlook the poor grades and irresponsible acts of high school and college athletes.

Why?

Because they win tournaments and make us look good! And how about 'celebrity justice'? Someone famous gets a free pass, while the less fortunate do the time because they did the crime?

Wrong!

We need to teach our children that unless they accept responsibility, life won't be good to them: "A man reaps what he sows."

Parent, taking personal responsibility means holding your child accountable when they violate the rules, mix with the wrong crowd; try "stuff" like drinking, drugs and premarital sex; cheat on a test; or stay out beyond curfew. Sound straight laced?

So is gravity. So is the harvest law.

Your sincere but naive sentiment, "I want them to have all the things I didn't have growing up," will turn spoiled children into spoiled adults.

Practice prevention: build a fence at the top of the cliff, not a hospital at the bottom!

You say, "By the time I get home at night I'm too tired to discipline them."

Wake up: when they get arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol the judge won't cut them any slack. Nor will the banker when he repossesses their car and their house because they didn't pay the loan.

Kindness is cruelty in disguise when it's not accompanied by responsibility.

Eli the High Priest rose to the top of his profession. Only one problem, he didn't take responsibility for his family. As a result, he and his sons died prematurely.

God said, "I told him that I would judge his family.... because… he failed to restrain them"

(1 Samuel 3:13 ).

So, take responsibility!

(3)

Now, a person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful.
1 Corinthians 4:2

In any great endeavour you'll face:

(a) nay-sayers who think it can't be done;

(b) road-blockers who place obstacles in your way;

(c) a high probability you'll fail before you succeed.

Who wants to endure such things?

Winners!

It takes courage to leave Egypt, walk through the wilderness wondering, "Am I making any progress at all?" and stand at the Red Sea knowing that without a miracle you'll drown, thinking "Nobody's ever been in this situation before, what if it doesn't work?"

Taking responsibility means stepping out in faith when there's no precedent to go by, no logic to stand on, and your friends are questioning your sanity.
The one quality all successful people have is the ability to accept ultimate responsibility.

General Eisenhower was given responsibility for planning the D-Day invasion. Giving the okay was a painful decision, one he knew would lead to many deaths. Yet if it was successful, it would guarantee victory over the Nazis. In the hours prior to the assault Eisenhower wrote a press release that he would use in the event of the invasion's failure.

It read: "Our landings have failed… and I have withdrawn the troops. My decision to attack at this time and this place was based on the best information available. The troops, the Air Force and the Navy did all that bravery and devotion to duty could do. If any blame or fault attaches to this attempt, it is mine alone."
If you want others to trust you, to give you greater opportunities and resources, to partner with you - then embrace responsibility and practice it faithfully in every area of your life!

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