Politicians, entrepreneurs, parents and pastors – everyone you are leading is looking for you to take responsibility. When you lead others it’s your tribe that keeps you accountable. What about when you are leading your own life? How are you taking responsibility for your own personal and spiritual development? It was one of those very disruptive, pivotal, thought provoking, experiences of my life, when I considered my responsibility for my own spiritual growth. It made me think about responsibilities in a whole new way.

Responsibilities. We all have them. However, we may not all take them as seriously as we should. Wouldn’t it be great if we all took responsibility for the things we are responsible for? Our finances, health and relationships.

Everyone loves the underdog. People who begin with limited opportunity and overcome great odds. These people often could complain ‘Life’s not fair’. But, instead they choose not to make excuses, but to leverage what they have for the benefit of others.

We’ve all said ‘Life’s not fair!’ We all say it when we feel we’re comparing ourselves to people with more opportunity. But some of us learn to do the best we can with what we have. How do we learn to understand life’s apparent inequality and begin to start taking responsibility for our own life?

God provides illumination in a story told by Matthew, a friend of Jesus. The parable of the talents (which referred to a monetary amount in Bible times) in Matthew talks about a master giving three servants different amounts of money. To one he gave 5, to another 2, and to the last 1. The first and second doubled their money and their master rewarded them and gave them more upon his return. The last servant did not multiply his talents. He buried his and then gave it back to the master when he returned. In the parable the master is furious and calls this third servant wicked and lazy.

Matthew quotes Jesus saying…

His master replied, ‘Well-done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

Matthew 25:21

Jesus concludes the parable with a reminder of the consequences of responsibility and irresponsibility.

These summary words of Jesus (which he placed in the mouth of the master in the parable) help us remember there are consequences for both responsibility and irresponsibility.

For those who have will be given more and they will have an abundance.

As for those who do not have even what they have will be taken from them.

Matthew 25:29

In order to take responsibility for your life, you need to look at your response ability. Do you have the ability to respond to anything life sends your way? A great resource to help people learn responsibility is Taking Responsibility For Your Life by Andy Stanley. The last of four teachings talks about this “Parable of the Talents”. It’s the best I’ve ever heard to help people learn its not how much or how little we have. Its what we do with what we have. Everyone can learn to be responsible by watching Taking Responsibility For Your Life.

It helps people understand we don’t all get the same amount of opportunity, but we will all be held accountable for what we do with what we’ve been given. These opportunities are gifts and are on loan to us. It’s our responsibility to figure out how to leverage and multiply them. It helps us understand to whom something is given- regardless of how great or small – something is required.

If we don’t learn to start taking responsibility for our own personal and spiritual development, no one else will and we’ll miss out on reaching our full potential.

Use Taking Responsibility for Your Life to be inspired to learn to be responsible with what you have and to stop thinking about people with more opportunity.

Is there someone you can inspire to be more responsible in areas of their life? Realize that God will only hold us accountable for what we do with what we have.

Attitude            How would you rate your responsibility for yourself?

Action                Watch Taking Responsibility for Your Life to help you and the people in your life learn responsibility.

Question           Can you think of an area of your life that would change if you changed your perspective on responsibility?