Personal Responsibililty



I may sound a bid harsh, judgmental, and uncaring in parts of this writing, but my intent is to simply bring awareness of how easy it is to fall into a state of atrophy, and how the lack of personal responsibility can dictate negative affects on one’s personally, emotional and mental state of mind, and spiritual need. 

My desire is for everyone to come to an understanding that God helps those who helps themselves, and that our station in life is dependent upon us and not someone else dictating our destiny.  We have the choice to remain subject to our surroundings and situations, or we can rise above our circumstances; allowing God to direct our steps.

We live in a society where instability and unreliability is becoming commonplace.  Many people play their game of irresponsible behavior at the expense of others.  It’s more prevalent in the United States of America than ever before. 

People of different persuasions are allowing slothfulness to choke out stability as they approach life with a wishy-washy attitude, while succumbing to a lack of accountability.  They have a “me” state of mind with a “support me” way of living that produces a dismal, bleak outlook on life.

Little or no accountability is expected of them, which allows disengagement and retreat from anything resembling responsibility.  In essence, they fail to take responsibility for their own actions.  Actually, fail is the wrong word to use.  They refuse to take responsibility, because there is no motivating factor to stimulate their “easy-life” mentality.

People with poor, motivational habits use excuses to lesson the impact on their inner psyche in order to justify their disconnection from personal responsibility.  Their excuses are usually consistent with those living on skid row—having a like mindset.  They blame the deprived environment they grew up in; abusive parents; lack of love in the home; physical or sexual abuse; and a thousand other reasons for not being responsible. 

People like this will fault everything and everyone under the sun for their shortcomings, yet rarely blame themselves for becoming a drunk; druggy; bum on skid row; or an uncaring mom or dad—a common denominator that I call, “me syndrome.” 

This mentality becomes some kind of badge of honor among those that become a leach on society.  I say, “Hogwash!”  Life’s disappointments and failures are directly linked to and influenced by the lack of personal responsibility, in my opinion.  Dependency on others will manifest laziness.

They consider themselves helpless products of their environment.  Their “poor me” lifestyle is only a reflection of a passive, non-committed attitude toward accountability.  They pass the buck of responsibility in their self-imposed world of pity, while looking for scapegoats to blame.  It’s always the other person’s fault for their station in life.

Allow me to inject this thought.  Anyone of us can fall in this category; reaching up to touch bottom, when we give up on life.  The Lord Jesus Christ gives meaning to life and provides every person with the strength to rise above negative happenings that beset them if they want it.

The good ole U.S.A. is the biggest supporter of non-responsible behavior of any country I know.  This government is an enabler of laziness that enables healthy, able-bodied men and women to lose interest in becoming a productive citizen.  Self-worth, self-esteem and self-motivation fail to surface, because it is easier to give into lethargy and accept the “system” that was created for them, rather than fighting the temptation to submit and surrender.  The folly of laziness is found in the Bible.

(Proverbs 6:6-11) “Go to the ant, you sluggard!”  vs.7 “Which, having no captain, overseer or ruler,” vs.8 “provides her supplies in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest.”  vs.9 “How long will you slumber, O sluggard?  When will you rise from your sleep?”  vs.10 “A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep—” vs.11 “so shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, and your need like an armed man.”

(Proverbs 13:4), “The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; but the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.” 

Many people sit on their laurels saying, “Feed me!” and “Support me!” because the welfare programs have made it easy for them to fall into a purposeless, unproductive lifestyle.  It’s shameful!  There was a time in this country when accepting handouts was below one’s dignity.  What happened?—national welfare happened.

Many recipients of welfare and other aid programs learn how to scam the system and draw checks unlawfully; checks that up-standing and responsible tax payers pay for.  Such programs encourage non-commitment to anything resembling work.  These programs promote bad work ethics.  Some people eliminate work all together and depend on assistance rather than accepting personal responsibility.

W. I. C. (Women, Infant, and Children) programs not only enable women to procreate, it promotes it.  Some women cannot take care of the children they already have, but they know the more kids they produce the more money they get from the state.  Children of these mothers are the ones that suffer the most.

Illegal migration across the United States boarders is becoming more prevalent than ever before.  People learn quickly that there are few consequences for disobeying the law.  Their actions of wrong doing go unpunished so they flock to our country with expectations of living off the fat of the land, while flaunting their country’s flag in the face of American Citizens.  The fat of the land is our health, welfare and social security programs that were established for hard working, responsible citizens of the United States.

Welfare and special aid programs draw “takers” like a magnet, while good work ethics and personal responsibility fly out the window.  It’s sad to see what these programs are taking away from people—self-respect.  Our “give” programs teach people how not to possess personal responsibility.

Citizens of the United States are deserving of the money that was set aside for their retirement, but aid programs throw millions of tax dollars and designated funds to non-responsible people as though the money will last forever. 

I believe the following Chinese proverb is fundamentally a good concept. “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day.  Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” 

The lack of personal responsibility begets poverty; and the lack of spiritual responsibility begets an anemic existence without hope.  There is nothing worse than being spiritually bankrupt and blaming others for the poverty.  Isn’t this what Adam and Eve did in the Garden of Eden?

Adam blamed Eve and Eve blamed the serpent for their disobedience to God.  They didn’t accept personal responsibility for their actions.  Consequently, spiritual poverty befell both of them; causing God to cast them out of paradise.  (Genesis 3)

Personal responsibility must embrace accountability before dignity and integrity can be realized.  Unless personal responsibility for one’s soul is implemented, they cannot enter heaven.  It will not help them to blame others for their non-responsible behavior when they are standing before the judgment seat of God.  Hanging onto another person’s coattail will not get them through the pearly gates.

Even though a person is born into a home having Christian parents and godly grandparents; if that person dies without confessing their sins to God, they will be lost for eternity; forever separated from God.  They have no-one to blame but themselves, because they had the choice of choosing life or death.  Children before the age of accountability are the only exception to God’s laws.

Whether a person is raised in poverty, or surrounded by sin and degradation, they cannot blame their environment or those around them for dying in their sins.  God gives every individual the freedom of choice no matter what their status in life is.

God places personal responsibility on the shoulders of every person.  We can either accept Jesus as Lord or reject God’s provision for sin, and go our own, separate way.  The choice is ours to make.

Personal responsibility is a choice—Jesus or the devil; heaven or hell.  Which choice have you made?

Written by,

Papa Boyd