It’s not my fault, but it is my responsibility  

I heard this a while back and it sort of stopped me in my tracks.  Think with me… It isn’t my fault that someone chose to litter in my yard or at the church, but once I see the trash it becomes my responsibility to pick it up and throw it away.  It’s not my fault that the lady in the parking lot hit another car (not mine) and then chose to drive away without leaving a note or attempting to find the owner of the damaged car.  But it is my responsibility to report what I have seen.  It is simply the right thing to do even though it isn’t my fault.  It’s not my fault that my neighbor doesn’t adequately (if at all) prepare for hurricane season, but my neighbor becomes my responsibility when the hurricane is coming or has come and they are in desperate need of help.  It’s not my fault when someone injures themselves or is involved in an accident, but it is my responsibility to render assistance in whatever way I can.  

I think you get the idea, right?  There are so many times it isn’t my fault, but by nature (especially for those who want to do good and especially for those who desire to be godly) we must involve ourselves in meeting the need, helping the hurting and, again, simply doing the right thing.  Think with me about the parable of the Good Samaritan, Luke 10:29-37.  It wasn’t the fault of the Samaritan that the man had been robbed and beaten by robbers.  It wasn’t the Samaritan’s fault that the other two men prior to him were too absorbed for various reasons and passed by on the opposite side of the road, even though truthfully it was their responsibility.  But as the Samaritan came upon this man it became his responsibility to render comfort and aid to the man.  

So let me apply this to our passage from yesterday (Colossians 4:2-6).  It is not my fault that another person is lost and separated from God, but as a Christian who professes to love God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength; and love my neighbor as myself; it is my responsibility that the lost hear the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ.  It is not my fault that 121 people per minute enter eternity separated from God forever in hell, but it is my responsibility to share the saving news of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection with as many as God gives me opportunity.  It is my and your responsibility if we know Jesus.  “You will be my witnesses.” Acts 1:8 tells us we don’t have a choice about being witnesses, only the type of witness we will be, faithful or unfaithful.  I choose to be faithful.  What about you?

Pressing on…

Ron Tipton, Senior Pastor