Taking Responsibility I: First Responsibility

Message 31 July 2016 Taking Responsibility I: First Responsibility

For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption: (Acts 13:36)

This message is the first of several on taking responsibility. It focuses on the first and highest responsibility for humanity - to obey God.

When you see a need what do you do. Do you avoid it, find excuses to justify helplessness, finger point and mourn about it?  Don't just cry and wish it away. Pick up the piece of paper on the floor, clean up the water spilled on the table, and remove the object on the road everyone is driving around.  Warn fellow drivers of dangers or pot holes ahead not of police speed traps and checkpoints. When no one is willing to take responsibility necessary good things remain undone. Do something positive about the situation in life and society. That is what taking responsibility is about. You elevate and handover responsibility to your life to whoever you blame for what happened in your life

A dictionary definition of responsibility will include - the state of having an assignment to work on something or of having control, influence, decision power over someone or something. Responsibility is accepting to be held accountable for what happens to someone or something. It is accepting to be called to explain and be blamed for the wrongs or credited for the joys that happen. Responsibility brings culpability. Taking responsibility is taking a risk. You will be the one to be rewarded or penalized for what happens. Leadership is such a responsibility. Faith is such a responsibility. Initiative is such a responsibility.

Responsibility is positive use of choice, and what you have for betterment of self, family and society. It is a positive response to a cause, a problem or need. During David’s time, when the army was trembling before Goliath of Gath, David saw a cause (1 Samuel 17:19). ‘Is there no cause?’, he asked. When he saw a cause he saw an opportunity. That is how he served his generation. He had a limited time like everyone else. The life opportunity one has  is the open window to make a contribution. The gift of time you received places a responsibility you one day will be required to account for. What are the causes in our lives, communities our generation? Let us find answers to this question and rise up to take responsibility. You have a limited opportunity to do something before you see corruption.

To serve your generation by the will of God:

1)      Obey God's Word

David was multi gifted - a prophet, king, master negotiator, chief diplomat, shepherd, anointed musician, giant killer and military genius. David took the responsibility for the betterment of his generation and applied all his multifaceted strengths to serve his generation by obeying God or by the will of God. Jesus the son of David did the same ...his food was to obey God. He was an obedient servant of God in everything even when obedience took him to the cross and to suffering (Philippians 2:7,8; Hebrews 5:8; John 17:4). He was the last Adam who succeeded where the first failed - the first responsibility test. The first Adam named animals, tended the garden and received a wife he loved but failed to obey God. It cost him his life.

 God is looking for people who will obey His will.  People who follow his word find the power to serve their generation. It matters to God how you handle and respond to his word. His word is food. Hearing it is eating, meditating is assimilation and obeying is releasing its power to execute.   Word that is spoken or acted on releases its power that created all things (Genesis 1).  We live in a time of information overload. The big question is how much of what you know do you apply. Doing the word of God is proof you love God. Jesus said if you love me you will obey my commands.  God wants his people to show their love by applying his word so that they spare him from the pain of seeing them in failure and defeat which accompanies disobedience.

2)      Do all for Gods glory

When it is out of obedience it follows that all glory belongs to the Lord. Paul traced all the evil increasing among people to a failure to acknowledge God and to glorify and give him thanks (Romans 1:21). Adam was not assigned only to care for the garden but to rule responsibly. To discover, conquer, manage, utilize, sustain and improve what he had. He was to acquire knowledge of his potential and that of his environment.

3)      Ask for wisdom

The one thing needed to responsibly use the power of choice is wisdom. Wisdom is God's word integrated into the heart, and soul. The key question KEY Q in executing responsibility is, What is the wise thing to do? David's life was characterized by wisdom. No wonder Solomon  asked for wisdom to lead God's people. He learnt the secret from his father.

And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul’s servants. 

And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him. 

Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him

continually. 

Then the princes of the Philistines went forth: and it came to pass, after they went forth, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by

-          (1 Samuel 18:5,14,15,30)

Wisdom sources

-          Wisdom comes from being full and transformed by the word of God. God's word, revelation and insight bring wisdom.

-          Spiritual maturity comes with growth in using the mind of Christ

-          Being led by the Holy Spirit – the Spirit of wisdom.

-          James also said if you need wisdom ask from God who gives liberally.

-          Humility to have advisers brings wisdom

-          Learning from past experience are further sources of wisdom.

-          Another source is reading widely.  Choices are as good as the information on which they are based.

-          Message by Dr. Kurai Chitima.

-          Faith Ministries – Johannesburg Faith Life Center.

-          First Floor Dhando House,

-          66 Eloff Street Extension,

-          Village Deep,

-           Johannesburg,

-          South Africa 

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