I have quoted a lot of famous people in my blog, but never thought I’d be quoting Hollywood actor John Wayne. He said, “I’m only responsible for what I say, not what you understand.” Another quote about responsibility comes from former Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz when asked the difference between the players he coached and today’s college athletes. “My players talked about responsibilities and obligations – today’s players talk about rights and privileges.” Why is it so important that we take responsibility for our words and actions?
We’ve all have known people who refuse to take responsibility for their actions or misunderstanding. They often find someone else to blame; society in general, or even you. I’m so glad my parents made me take responsibility for my own errors or disobedient actions. It seems a lot of parents are not doing that these days and the result is predictable and brutally obvious.
When we accept Christ as our Savior, we also accept God as our heavenly Father. There are responsibilities as a son or daughter of God. Obedience is the most important. We are held responsible to obey God’s word. We are responsible to learn to recognize the promptings of the Holy Spirit within us and obey them. We are responsible to love others, even our enemies, and help them whenever possible. We are responsible to share our testimony and blessings with others. When obedience becomes a habit instead of a duty, living a Christian life becomes so much easier and enjoyable.
We are not responsible for the words and actions of others, but we will be held responsible for our reactions to people and situations around us. So make sure your reactions are Christ-like.