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Personal Responsibility (4)
The responsibility of mankind, his whole duty, is made clear in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14. There can be no misunderstanding of who we are to be in this world. With a consciousness of God and a love for Him with our all, man knows his life should be dedicated to being and living as a Christian.
Note how 1 Corinthians 15:58 describes the responsibility of being and living as a Christian: “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” With an unwavering belief in the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, my duty is to stand firm in the gospel and be immovable in the work of the Lord. Being immovable is not to imply motionlessness. In the work of the Lord, no labor in the church is effortless. The responsibility of every Christian is work in accordance with the will of God.
In view of the eternal ramifications of the command above, this work of the Lord is significant. It is not to be abandoned. It has no “age of retirement” or “if” clauses. Regardless of how many or few are involved with us in this work, this labor in the Lord is to continue. There are souls to teach and there is holiness to live. There are many things we will need to do with our talents, money, energy, bodies, minds, spirits, and relationships. In all this, there is labor knowing good will come if done to please God (Colossians 3:23). The hope of our labor being rewarded is a motivation for Christians to be steadfast in doing all we can to serve in God’s kingdom. A crown, eternal life and rest, and entrance into the “joy of the Lord” all serve to stir our hearts toward the responsibility of doing all we can in light of what God has done abundantly for us.
Along the way, we may yield to temptation and sin. Mistakes will be made. A wrong word will be said. A bad attitude will occur. A bad decision will be made. In our effort to work for the Lord, these things happen. When they do, will we be responsible and own up to our mistakes?
Regardless of how many blame their failures on everything but themselves, everyone will answer for what they do. As easy as it may be to point out the mote in the eye of another, God holds us responsible. If we joy in the prospect of a reward because of our labor in the Lord, then why not understand the judgment placed upon our sin when we fail? In both respects, there is responsibility.
The difficulty to face the responsibility for our mistakes is ego-driven. When we view self as a decent, good person, better than average in certain areas, and always trying to do our best, it is hard to grasp our faults as our own personal undoing. For example, some think they are honest, despite having cheated on their last exam. Some Christians will attend just one worship service a week, never daily read their Bibles, nor speak to anyone about the gospel, and still declare they are faithful.
A person rebuked for mistakes like those above and many others often point at their accusers and accuse them of being narrow-minded or biased. They go into hyper-defensive mode, start circling the wagon, and begin to issue insults or some self-justification for self-protection. This happened in scripture with Peter as he denied the Lord three times. He does not admit any connection with Jesus. He attempts to distance himself from personal association with the Lord. Then, he pays the price for his mistakes. “And he went out, and wept bitterly” (Matthew 26:75).
What is at stake with failing to be responsible for personal sin and mistakes? Is it your self-esteem? Is it your reputation? Is it your lust for being on top? Is it your need to be in control? Whatever the reason, none of these things redeem you from the transgression. The iniquity still hangs over you, and heaven knows what you have done. What is at stake is your soul!
While we ponder our sin as “I don’t normally act this way” or “I don’t normally say those things,” the sin still lies before us. What then? Will responsibility come forth and take care of the matter? Will accountability manifest itself in sorrow and apology? Will the security of the relationship with God and others bring me to realize who has been hurt because of my mistakes?
Rather than being dramatic about it, just seek mercy. Rather than searching for a means of self-justification, seek the Lord. Rather than extoll how long and hard your day has been, apologize. Rather than cultivate a stronger will at the moment of your sin, bring forth fruit worthy of repentance. Rather than promising, “I will do better next time,” ask God to forgive you.
Complaints never work, but confession leads to repentance. Excuses never hold, but “the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16). Recounting what, why, and how your mistake “really happened” is for those wanting to write a juicy column in the newspaper. God wants your humble, contrite heart (Psalm 51:17). Instead of trying to “save face,” look at God face to face in lowliness. Until we are responsible enough to know what our sins have done to God, forgiveness may never be a road we travel. If we only knew the peace, recovery, and freedom of guilt from being responsible for our sins, we would seek mercy quickly. I will not make sure everyone knows the “real story.” I will just be responsible and seek redemption. The sooner we receive mercy, the better we will be at being immovable and doing the work of the Lord.
Instead of trying to remember why you sinned and caused it to happen, seek God to forgive you.
Let Him take your sin and remember it no more.
(Hebrews 8:12)
