But, but, but. Buts are overused and misused. It should be ‘and’ rather than ‘but.’ It was me and I’m sorry. But, no. It seems that people these days are not responsible for themselves. No matter what they do or say, it’s someone else’s fault (this actually started about 6,000 years ago! [Gen. 3:12-13]). That guy killed that girl, but it was because his parents abused him as a child. I started smoking at 18, but it was because my dad spanked me when I was 16. She beat that dog, but it was because she had a bad childhood. Those two kids shot up a whole classroom, but it was because they were teased and bullied.
WHAT?! Since when are others responsible for the things that we choose to do ourselves? Everything we do is a choice we make prior to doing it. Logical, right? Then why is avoiding the consequences of our actions (still) so prevalent today? So maybe you grew up with horrible influences, thinking it was OK to hit people or things, or to take out your anger on the defenseless (or even the inanimate!). Maybe you were bullied, abused, mistreated, and that is wrong. BUT, your actions are absolutely not justified by others’ poor or evil choices. We are all accountable for something.
Children are accountable to parents; workers are accountable to bosses; government officials are accountable tot he public; adults are accountable to the law; and ultimately, we all are accountable to God.
Just about everything you do affects someone other than yourself. When one of our kids chooses to disobey, they get grounded (much to the chagrin of the offender, because they illegitimately feel their misdeed should go unpunished), and it affects the whole family…we have to plan around the punishment. It’s not right to everyone else, but that person must face the consequences of the poor choice they made. Why shouldn’t they? After all, they knew the rules and chose to break them.
It’s not just about doing things we shouldn’t do. It’s also about not doing things that we should do. What are your responsibilities at home and work, are you living up to them, and why not? Did you choose to not finish something at work? Were you supposed to meet someone somewhere and didn’t? Did you tell someone you would do something and didn’t? What were your excuses? I had a guitar lesson last Tuesday at 1:45. At 2:10 I realized I forgot. I called my instructor, apologized for forgetting (thankfully, I offered him no excuses, for I had none). He told me “it happens.” I said, “Yeah, but it shouldn’t.” It wasn’t just about ME. I didn’t just miss my lesson, I totally inconvenienced my instructor by wasting his time. My phone is now set to remind me. If you know things you should do and choose not to do them, you are wrong (Jms. 4:17).
Every choice you make has consequences of some kind, whether that choice is a good one, or a bad one. You no doubt gladly accept the consequences of a good choice—taking credit for them I’m sure. So why think that you shouldn’t have to accept the consequences of a bad choice and take credit for them as well? Just take it! It is much more commendable to acknowledge your failures than it is to try to pawn them off on someone else or lie about them.
Parents, teach your children responsibility. Teach them that it is not all about them. Teach them that they must be held accountable for their attitudes, actions, and words…and then HOLD THEM TO IT!
Shirking responsibility, even for small things, will not work at judgment, both for the Christian and non-Christian. You had better believe that every little and big thing you do or say here on this earth in this world will one day be judged by the Creator, Sustainer, Ruler, and Judge (Heb. 9:27; 2 Cor. 5:10; Rom. 2:6-11; Mt. 25:31-35; Rev. 22:12). Even if you may (think you) get away with things in this life, you will not be permitted to lay blame on someone else at judgment. You are responsible for you, regardless of what others do or say to you or against you.
The greatest choice, with the greatest consequence, that you must make is whether or not to accept Christ as your Savior, to let Him into your life to guide you, to obey and trust Him through faith. If you are not saved, if you choose to not give your life to Jesus Christ and accept Him as your Savior and Lord, then you will endure the wrath of God for eternity in hell, because of your foolish choice to deny Christ (Rom. 2:5). And you will be able to blame no one but yourself, for it is an individual responsibility. It’s the same for absolutely every other choice you make, except here the choice is absolute and the consequence much greater. What will you choose?
Have a wonderfully blessed day,
Niki (ͼᴥͽ)
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