Do you consider yourself a responsible person? Do you see some areas in your life where you may be lacking the ability to be responsible? No matter how you answered those questions, it’s a good idea to understand what the Bible says about being responsible. God’s plan for His people involves success in every area of our lives, and success cannot come without responsibility. Does the Bible teach the importance of responsibility? Does Scripture teach us how to be responsible? Discover the answers to those questions today.
From the time that you were young, you probably had someone in your life telling you that you needed to be responsible. For children, the idea of being responsible usually involves completing homework, cleaning their rooms, or taking care of a pet. As we get older, our responsibilities evolve with us. When you became a teenager, you probably picked up a part time job. This first job helped you learn about time management and how to be responsible with your finances. There is no greater responsibility for a teenager than getting a driver’s license and taking on the responsibility of safely operating a vehicle.
Finally, when we reach adulthood, the need for responsibility is everywhere. Job requirements, things to do at home, a family that needs you, and a number of other tasks require you to be responsible. While it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the number of demands that you have on your time, it’s important to understand that God wants His people to be responsible.
Why does God want His people to be responsible? Because He wants us to be successful in every part of our lives. You can’t find success in your career if you’re irresponsible. You can’t find financial success if you’re irresponsible with money. You can’t be the husband, wife, mother, or father that your family needs you to be if you shirk your responsibilities at home.
While we’re going to look at examples in Scripture where we’re told to be responsible, we’re also going to look at what Scripture teaches us how to make that a reality.
Being Responsible at Work
Colossians 3:23 (TPT)
Put your heart and soul into every activity you do, as though you are doing it for the Lord himself and not merely for others.
Whether you’re a teenager who is juggling high school and a part time job, or you’re an adult who spends 40 or more hours at work every week, being a good employee is an important part of being Godly. In this verse from His letter to the Colossian Church, Paul said that believers should do every activity that they do as though they are doing it for the Lord.
How differently would you approach your job if God was your immediate supervisor? Would you show up late? Would you take days off without good reason and without notifying the boss? Of course not! Obviously, the people you work for are not God, but God wants us to make our jobs a branch of our ministries.
When you shift the way that you look at your job, it’s much easier to be a responsible employee. Not only does this ensure that you’re achieving success in the workplace, which is good for your finances, but it also shows others that you are willing to give everything that you’ve got in everything that you do. Even if you work around unbelievers every day, they will notice that there’s something different about you.
Being Responsible with Your Finances
Deuteronomy 8:18 (ESV)
You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day.
If you’ve ever heard someone say that God hates money, you can look to this verse and know that it’s not true. While Jesus did preach and teach extensively on the importance of not being obsessed with making more money, He also spoke at length about the importance of managing the money that God has blessed you with.
The idea of God blessing His people with money isn’t a New Testament philosophy. Instead, it goes back to this verse in Deuteronomy. Unfortunately, while some people teach that God hates money, others point to this verse as a way of saying that God wants His people to live opulent lifestyles. It’s important to note that God is not focused on how much money you have. He has ensured us that His people will have their needs met, but He also never promised that we were going to live in excessive wealth.
God’s goal for your money is that you handle it responsibly. There are multiple verses in Proverbs and Ecclesiastes in which Solomon spoke about the importance of money management. God is not anti-money, but He does expect us to be good stewards of what He has given us.
How are you with money? Do you blow every dollar that you make on things that aren’t really important? If so, allow the Holy Spirit to change the way that you handle your finances. When we honor God with our money, we are entrusting Him with something that is of great importance to us.
Being Responsible in the Little Things
Luke 16:10 (TPT)
“The one who faithfully manages the little he has been given will be promoted and trusted with greater responsibilities. But those who cheat with the little they have been given will not be considered trustworthy to receive more.
This is another verse that needs some clarification before we dive into the principle that surrounds. Jesus was not saying that if you’re financially responsible with a little bit of money that He will bless you with millions. Can He do that? Absolutely! However, this verse is not a “get rich quick” scheme. Instead, it speaks to the fact that God wants us to be responsible, even when it looks like we’re not responsible for much.
One of the Godliest men of the Old Testament exhibited this principle early in his life. Before David ever sat on a throne as King of Israel, he fought a giant named Goliath. You’ve probably heard the story of David and Goliath, but there’s a verse tucked away in that story that drives home the importance of being responsible in the “little things.”
1 Samuel 17:20 (ESV)
And David rose early in the morning and left the sheep with a keeper and took the provisions and went, as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the encampment as the host was going out to the battle line, shouting the war cry.
Jesse, David’s father, asked his youngest son to stop shepherding for a few days to take some food to his brothers who were at war. David didn’t know that he was going to fight a giant. David wasn’t a soldier! He knew that he had been anointed to become the King of Israel, and a brief statement in 1 Samuel 17:20 gives us a great insight as to why God trusted him with that kind of responsibility.
His brothers knew David was responsible. While Eliab was being sarcastic, the question he asked David indicates that they knew he wouldn’t just leave the sheep.
1 Samuel 17:28 (ESV)
Now Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spoke to the men. And Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, “Why have you come down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your presumption and the evil of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle.”
Compared to a battle, keeping sheep seemed insignificant. However, David knew that he was supposed to be responsible, even when it looked like there was nothing important going on. His commitment to his obligations played an important role in God promoting him to the head of Israel. Even when it seems like what you’re doing doesn’t matter, handle your obligations responsibly. God is watching to see how you handle those things so He knows that He can trust you with more.
A Closing Prayer:
Heavenly Father, help me to be a more responsible person. Help me to be more responsible at work and at home. Help me to be a good steward of my finances. Most of all, help me to be responsible in the things that seem insignificant to me. In Christ’s name, Amen.