Taking Responsibility II: Test of Responsibility

Message 7 July 2016 Taking Responsibility II:  Test of Responsibility

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. (Genesis 1:28)

In the last message we saw that the first and highest responsibility is to obey God. To live for his glory and walk in his wisdom.

This message is about four things responsible people don't do. The four are tests for responsibility. Responsibility is easy to claim but hard to take. When things are not going well, people who take responsibility rise from obscurity.  Otherwise when things are going well it's hard to tell those accepting responsibility. Everyone will claim credit even when they did nothing.

1) Responsible people don't avoid responsibility

Any responsibility avoided will appear later as a ghost. Responsibility is avoided in several ways.

>> Refusing to accept blame

Aaron refused blame for building the golden calf idol (Exodus 32:21-24). Responsible people accept blame when things don't go well. When you always blame everyone else and everything else except yourself you are failing to take responsibility. This attempt to avoid responsibility is noticeable not only at personal level where for example media and  peer pressure take blame but also at corporate levels. For example, it’s not uncommon for post-independence Africa to find scapegoat for poor governance and economic performance in colonialism, the white man, sanctions and harsh environments. You will not fully do something about a situation unless you full accept blame for its unfavorable outcome. Instead of being a specialist on your past and its pain say how do I reach out to my future and its fortune despite obstacles.

>> Giving excuses

Responsible people explore ways to get things done to solve challenges. Esther almost found an excuse for not going before the king to plead for the deliverance of the Jews from being destroyed by Haman (Esther 4:8-11). But Modecai helped her realize that it her opportunity to take responsibility. She then put her life on the line and trusted in God (Esther 4:16) resulting in the nation being spared from destruction. The responsible say how can I do it, instead of it cannot be done. They say how can I afford it, instead of I cannot afford. Instead of there is a problem or I hate this, they ask how shall I provide a solution. Instead of give me, they say what can I give. Responsibility says nobody owes me anything and what I receive I don't take for granted. Appreciation is perfected when you know people did not owe you and did not have to do you anything good.

>> Failing to arrive at a decision

Indecision is common when effecting radical  change, when risk is high, when it involves tough conversations and when it disturbs current comfort and familiarity. Yet gears to the next league are however often shifted by some hard decision. Reluctance to make such a decision when necessary is unwillingness to take responsibility. Signs of this are procrastination, ducking and diving, endless research and analysis and resorting to merely watching instead of taking action.

>> Harboring bitterness and grudges

Bitterness and unforgiveness transfer the responsibility you need to move forward to your offender. When you can't move forward until he/she explains, pays or apologizes you transfer authority to him/her. You have to take the responsibility back from the offender you need it. Instead of who hurt me, ask how did I allow hurt to reach my heart. How did the hurt missile go past my spiritual defences? How did I allow it to hurt me? How did that happen? No weapon fashioned against you should prosper (Isaiah 54:17). You can't stop offence from being inflicted on you but maybe you can stop it from reaching your heart and grounding you (Psalm 119:165).

>> Passing judgement and criticising unfairly.

Being responsible involves attending first to the log in your own eye.  To qualify for communion Paul taught the need to examine oneself, not exceling in examining others (1 Corinthians 11:28). The same will apply when you stand before God. 

Instead of only highlighting how wrong they are you examine yourself by asking, could there be something wrong on my side. Also find out what is below their iceberg by asking why would they do this? When you find out what they have been through you will discover they are an opportunity for you to reach out and help instead of condemn. Ask God why am I aware of the need or weakness of others  (Esther 4:14, Titus 1:5).

2) Responsible people don't neglect responsibility

Responsibility is most visible in personal and private life. The question to ask is do you do what is right and necessary in all situations? David had the power to do what he wanted and he chose not to go to battle, chose to instead go to the roof top to watch a woman bathing, the catastrophe of his choices is history (2 Samuel 11). What you do when no one is watching is very telling about how responsible you are. Under supervision and promise of reward or threat everyone may appear responsible. Also what you do with something that does not belong to you or is shared with others is telling. Often what belongs elsewhere is neglected and abused or left unmaintained. What you do in face of a need when you don't have to do anything, when there is no direct self-benefit and when off the watchful radar of people or leaders is the test. That is when you really have a choice to just show who you are. For example, how you carry out volunteer work and whether you act with the welfare of the next generation or your neighbors’ in mind.

3) Responsible people don't abandon responsibility

You can tell who is responsible when the ship faces harsh waters and when the bus hits rough terrain. When head winds are strong and delay is long, when the pace begins to steal the peace and when answers are not forthcoming or a request is denied. The responsible people are seen by rising to the surface when things get tough. They keep going towards the goal. They know that the next generation depends on it and  somewhere someone is depending on their not quitting. The report of the spies was contagious (Numbers 13).  Divine help is not sent where you are but to your station. God visited Adam but had to call out ‘where are you?’ Storms and temptations come to move you from the station of faith and the secret place of prayer and love.

When the men of the day and the army generals abandoned responsibility of fighting the Canaanites, Deborah arose (Judges 5:7). And Barak the army general said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go (Judges 4:8).. Yes you also can help your situation (Philippians 4:13, Luke 1:37).   Jabez also helped his situation. So did Hanna. So did Bathsheba. So did the woman with an issue of blood. So did blind Bathemeus. Joseph became prime minister in a foreign land. And many others.

4) Responsible people don't deny responsibility

What do you do when you know no one saw you do something wrong but they are looking for who did it? Responsible people do not deny responsibility. Saul disobeyed God by not killing all of and what was among the Amelikites. He covered up that he spared the animals so as to sacrifice to God. He did not admit his wrong. Often something is found broken in a place where a few people have access and no one owns up. That shows failure to take responsibility. I was told the story of a man with a cell phone on a bus. The wife phoned and to show off their love he put the phone on loud. To his shock the wife asked why he had eaten the baby's porridge.  The phone dropped before he blamed the cat. The wife continued describing how it was not the first time. May the phone drop each time you want to deny responsibility. David owned up with God (Psalm 51) and picked up himself to serve his generation.

What this means for Responsible People

The future is in your hands. You can do something. Refuse to  watch your life go to waste. Refuse to allow your situation go down the drain.  What’s going on does not need to continue. What happened in the past need not recur. You can bring a full stop by taking responsibility. Unfavorable situations continue until they are stopped. You can be the first in your clan. In your family line someone was first to bath with soap, first to wear a suit, first to wear shoes, first to own a bicycle. first to drink Fanta, first to use indoor toilet, first to get a degree, first not to divorce, etc. Dare to cross the line and shatter the ceiling. Make new things happen. Moses was the one to cross the Red Sea on dry land. Everyone fell before angels but Jacob was the first to fall on and wrestle an angel. There are shakers and takers be a shaker. There are movers and mourners be a mover. There are makers and watchers be a maker.

Under God, you are your own liberator. The solution lies in something you must do. The solution is in some capacity God has already deposited in you.  If no one is willing to take responsibility for good things they will not just happen. Slavery and abuses stopped and will stop when people take responsibility. Invention and discoveries are achieved when people take responsibility. Stand up. Say something. Do something. Knock doors, Seek, search, arise and pray.

-          Message by Dr. Kurai Chitima.

-          Faith Ministries – Johannesburg Faith Life Center.

-          First Floor Dhando House,

-          66 Eloff Street Extension,

-          Village Deep,

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-          South Africa