Responsibility- What's That?
By: Kristen L. McNulty
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A few years back MxPx came out with the hit song “responsibility” and the lyrics went something like this: “Responsibility, what’s that? Responsibility not quite yet. Responsibility what’s that? I don’t want to think about it, we’d be better off without it.”
Now while this was a fun song to listen to and even sing along with, I believe that there is an important lesson to be learned here.
It seems like now more than ever responsibility has become a big problem within our society. Young people are wandering aimlessly because they don’t know the meaning of the word and even in the Christian faith responsibility has become an issue.
We all like to talk about and accept the benefits that come with our faith, but it has become way too easy for us to forget the responsibility that comes with it as well. We throw around words like fellowship, community, and brotherhood, and while there’s nothing wrong with any of these things, it’s becoming easier to forget what Christianity is all about.
In Matthew chapter twenty, Jesus tells us exactly what we should be about when He says: “Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must become your slave. Mm For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many.”
In here lies the key to true Christian living, but it is very tempting to toss aside because it comes with an awful lot of responsibility.
Becoming a slave literally means that we give up ownership of ourselves to God and serve both Him and others. This is no small task, but rather it’s a huge step in radical living.
Too often this step is not even attempted because of the responsibility issue. The world entices s to be ‘free spirits’ and to ‘look out for number one’, so the idea of giving that all up is sometimes just too much.
And it’s a shame because with this kind of living comes the most exciting and rewarding life there is. A life that is dedicated to God alone and as a result is truly blessed by Him.
Yes it can be frustrating at times to live this way especially when those around us aren’t, but when we stand before God none of that is going to matter.
As the apostle Paul wrote in Galatians 6:9 “So don’t get tired of doing what is good. Don’t get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time.”
This devotional was aired as a part of the Making A Difference Christian Radio Show.