Responsibility
Ponder: What is the extent of my responsibility?
Scripture: “Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity, but you have delivered your soul” (Ezekiel 3:19, NKJV).
Like most issues, responsibility can be taken to extremes. Some deny all responsibility. Others assume more responsibility than is rightfully theirs. What is our actual responsibility relative to teaching people God’s word?
Paul was responsible to teach the truth. “For necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16). He was not responsible, however, for the way people reacted. When stubborn sinners rejected the word, Paul said, “Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean” (Acts 18:6).
Similarly, God told Ezekiel to be like a watchman upon the wall of a city (Ezekiel 3:17-21). If the prophet did not warn the people, they would die in their sins, but God would hold Ezekiel accountable. If, on the other hand, the people ignored his warnings, they would still die in their sins, but it would no longer be the prophet’s responsibility.
First, then, we bear individual responsibility for our own behavior. We cannot say, “I am not responsible because I didn’t know.” Ignorance is not bliss! It does not remove responsibility.
Second, as God’s children, we are responsible to take His word to the lost and to warn the saved against straying. If we fail to do so, God will hold us responsible – we will have the blood of lost souls on our hands.
Third, assuming we have taught the truth, using godly persuasion in a spirit of love, we have fulfilled our responsibility. We should not burden ourselves with guilt because someone we taught did not believe and obey.
Let us take our responsibility seriously! At the same time, let us realize that others are also responsible for themselves.
Song: “Are You Sowing the Seed of the Kingdom?”
Prayer: Father, You have entrusted us with the awesome responsibility of taking the gospel to a lost world in desperate need of it. Help us, we pray, to fulfill our responsibility so that our hands may be clean before You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Joe Slater (Justin, TX)
jaslater1954@gmail.com