In this world today, what we amount in life or the quality of our lives is largely tied to our taking personal responsibility for our actions and reactions.
Many today are a failure in life because they fail or refuse to take personal responsibility. Most people blame others for their failures. Whether you are keen on religion or not, if you fail to take responsibility, you are sure to suffer for it.
Moreover, this life doesn’t offer us what we deserve but only offers us what we demand – that is responsibility. No wonder the Bible encourages us in Hebrew 6:12 “that ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises”.
In other words, it encourages us that we should follow or imitate those who made it in life by taking personal responsibility for their lives, responsibility for their actions, and reactions. One area we need to take personal responsibility for our actions and reactions is the area of fearing and serving God.
We can see an example of such from the life of Joseph as can be seen in Genesis 39:7-9 “And it came to pass after these things that his master’s wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.”
But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. “There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”
Look at the preceding action of Joseph in verses 10-12 “So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her.
But it happened about this time when Joseph went into the house to do his work, and none of the men of the house was inside, that she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside.
From the story above, Joseph took personal responsibility and vehemently refused to have an affair with Potiphar’s wife and was ready to suffer for it or suffered for it. While, as some other, young men will see it as an opportunity to enjoy $exual pleasure.
If Joseph had not taken personal responsibility to refuse to have $exual pleasure with Potiphar’s wife, he would have ended up a houseboy or slave boy for life. His refusal sent him to prison, and God took him from the prison to the palace.
Like Joseph, how many people today are ready to lose their job, especially ladies, rather than trade their bodies with their boss? Or lady bankers who were given a huge target to meet or be sacked, who trade their bodies by prostituting (sleeping with potential bank customers) to meet their target.
Another area we need to take personal responsibility is in the area of what we eat: We can see an example from the action of Daniel and the three Hebrew children as can be seen in Daniel 1:8
“But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
It is unfortunate that many had destroyed or are destroying themselves as a result of the so-called enjoyment of what they eat. Some eat all manners of things to the detriment of their health. Paul wrote in the book of Philippians 3:19 that such people, their belly is their god. Philippians 3:18-19.
For many walks, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame–who set their mind on earthly things.
What about taking responsibility to obey God rather than man? It is unfortunate many today are doing things today in defiance of God’s clear instructions because they fear men more than God. Some are doing things that are even against their conscience for fear of men.
This was not so with the three Hebrew men as can be seen in Daniel 3:13-18 “Then Nebuchadnezzar, in rage and fury, gave the command to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. So they brought these men before the king.
Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up?
“Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good!
But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?” Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.
“If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. “But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”
The three Hebrew mentioned above were ready to die to obey God rather than a man, a king for that matter. Will you and I decide today to take personal responsibility to obey God at all costs rather than obeying men? End of part one, watch out for part two.——-
