By Myrna Conrad

Webster defines responsibility as “the quality or state of being responsible: such as a moral or mental accountability; reliability, trustworthiness; something for which one is responsible. There seems to be a trend today of people looking for ways to avoid responsibility and blame others for their mistakes or misfortunes. This lack of willingness to take responsibility often stems from the attitude of entitlement. The more entitled a person feels, the more apt they are to blame their situation on the failings of others.

We all have different areas of responsibility, whether they are at home, at work, in school, in our community or in our church. Yet, there are some areas of responsibility that we all share.

Each of us is responsible for our own actions. There are some things that we have no control over what family we are born into, the period of time in which we live, our ethnicity or that we will someday die. We also don’t always have control over what others do around us or to us. But, we are responsible for what we choose to do and how we choose to respond in any situation. There seems to be an epidemic of blaming others today. Actually, blaming others goes all the way back to the beginning of time, when sin entered the world.

However, today blame seems to be the fall back response for all of life’s difficulties or poor decisions. Blaming others is simply an excuse for not taking responsibility for our own actions that have produced outcomes that we are not always happy about. My husband has a mantra that he likes to live by called the IABR principle: Input, Attitude, Behavior, Results. We do not always have control over the “input” that enters our lives, but we do have the choice of what our “attitude” will be. Our attitude will then flow over into our “behavior,” which will always affect the “results.” We are totally responsible for our attitude in any given situation.

Our attitudes have a big part in determining who we become as a person. We hear so much whining today about being held back by other people. We hear it in the form of inequality or lack of opportunity. However, at least in our country, we all have the opportunity to learn and to better ourselves. There is an overabundance of information available at our finger tips; more today than there has ever been before. There are examples of people who have come from very difficult or low economic situations who have worked hard to excel and make a good life for themselves. These are the people who stopped waiting for others to do something and took responsibility for their own betterment.

We are each responsible for taking care of our health. Sure, we all have different health issues throughout our lives, some of which are genetically predisposed and others that we have no control over being exposed to. However, we are each responsible for taking care to eat healthy, exercise and keep our minds active.

We all have people that we are responsible to care for, whether it be a spouse, children, aging parents, or employees. Sometimes these responsibilities can be tiresome and demanding, but to shirk them or expect someone else to handle them, is irresponsible. The responsibility to care for others is a blessing. Caring for others, takes us outside our self-focused nature and teaches us to put others first. There are many opportunities to learn and grow as we embrace our many different rolls of responsibility. We can learn more about others and more about ourselves.

We all have the responsibility to show respect to those around us. There is such a lack of respect shown in our country today. We see that played out in riots, in media bashing, in destruction of property and in cruelty to our fellow humans. We may not agree with another person or we may not like a person or their actions, but we can either stoop to their level or we can choose to treat them with respect. Often our attitude is that we will show respect to someone only if they show us respect. However, when we accept respect as our own responsibility, then we will find that others will reciprocate.

Winston Churchill said, “The price of greatness is responsibility.” We all have been created in the image of God and with a purpose. We all have the opportunity for greatness so let’s take responsibility for our choices, our attitude and our actions.

How can you become more responsible? Here are a few strategies:

Be Aware:
– Understand your responsibilities and be diligent and accountable.
– Be aware of your attitude in any given situation.
– When you find yourself blaming, reflect on your responsibility in the situation.

Be Intentional:
– Lead by example. Don’t shirk your responsibilities.
– Take responsibility for your actions. Teach your children to take responsibility for theirs.
– Take your responsibilities seriously and build a reputation of someone who can be depended on.

By Pastor Doug Stauffer

America has proven to be the most blessed nation on earth for about the last two and a half centuries. As is generally the case, the few selflessly sacrifice for the many. Some sacrifice by enlisting with the military for love of country (or serving on the front lines in other capacities), while others sacrifice by serving in the ministry. I have been doubly blessed to serve in both.

My wife and I have extensive patriotic heritages spanning over 100 years: from WWI and WWII to Vietnam; the Cold War to Iraq. There are many high points with some low points, too. At 21 years of age, Judy’s uncle was killed in WWII, but her father served on the U.S.S. Missouri where General Douglas MacArthur accepted the Japanese surrendered in Tokyo Bay.

My father served as a platoon leader in Vietnam during the Tet Offensive as the enemy attempted to overrun bases throughout the country. His Bronze Star attests to his gallantry. One of my most memorable high points: taking control of an F-15 Tactical Fighter. However, pulling 7G’s doing a loop maneuver pushed my body beyond its G-tolerance limits. Like so many others, our families’ dedication to country stems from a willingness to defend these United States against all enemies—foreign and domestic.
Very few people realize the extent to which the Bible references warfare. For instance, following the Jews’ deliverance from Egypt, Moses said, “The LORD is a man of war…” Likewise, the New Testament includes many references to warfare.

For instance, the Bible tells us to be a “good soldier of Jesus Christ” by fighting “the good fight” while wearing the “the whole armour of God.” It further admonishes us that “no man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” I hope and pray never to go AWOL (Absent WithOut Leave).

The Bible continues by stating that dedicated Christians “do not war after the flesh” and that “the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds.” It mentions only one offensive weapon—the “two edged sword,” also referred to as the “sword of the Spirit” and the “word of God.”

Even the church hymnbooks reflect these Bible truths with songs like “Hold the Fort” and “Sound the Battle Cry.” Other familiar hymns are “Onward Christian Soldiers” and “Am I a Soldier of the Cross.” The hymns expressed the truths found within the pages of God’s word.

My advice for every Christian never has and never will waver:
• Enlist while there is still time
• Engage the enemy
• Envision the fact that our heavenly Commander-in-Chief has already won the victory

When you find yourself feeling defeated or just down and discouraged, keep in mind this insight: “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12). So, when you find yourself in a skirmish or an all-out war, be sure to look up—our battle is spiritual, and the final chapter has already been written. Spoiler alert: we won!

Dr. Doug Stauffer is pastor of Faith Independent Baptist Church. He was saved July 6, 1980, in Niceville, while stationed at the 33rd Tactical Fighter Wing at Eglin Air Force Base and has now been in the ministry for over 35 years. He has written 20 books including the best selling “One Book” trilogy (“One Book Rightly Divided, One Book Stands Alone, One Book One Authority”); along with several devotionals (“Daily Strength”series); and prophecy books (“Reviving the Blessed Hope, When the End Begins”).