Good morning and happy Saturday. I hope that you had a good week. Furthermore, I hope that you can evaluate your week and identify how God is at work in your life.
The other day I was sitting in traffic enjoying one of the many construction zones that we have scattered around KC. I happened to be fortunate enough to be directly behind one of the large dump trucks hauling material off of the project. As I sat there I noticed a sign on the back of the trailer-dump. It said, “Stay back. Not responsible for broken windshields.” Obviously, it is a good idea to stay back from some of these things since stuff does fall off of them. Typically, the first few bumps on the road leaving a project helps to dislodge rocks of various sizes. However, I am fairly certain placing a sticker on your truck will not alleviate your responsibility. Having been in the construction business for 15 years of my life, we had the privilege of paying for a few items along the way. If it falls off of your truck, then it is your responsibility to make it right.
It’s not just in the construction world, but in all areas of society it seems being are trying to get out of their responsibilities. The mantra of the modern world is, “It’s not my fault.” Many people are not willing to take responsibility for their actions. People have the tendency to do whatever they want to do, not really caring what happens to those around them. If someone gets hurt, if something gets damaged, if bad things happen, oh well, it’s not my fault.” “I can’t help it.” “It’s just the way it is.” “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
It is interesting that in the Old Testament you read of a various rules and reminders to guide you in areas of your responsibility.
If you build a new house, make a railing around your roof, so that you don’t bring bloodguilt on your house if someone falls from it. (Dt. 22:8)
One who loves to offend loves strife; one who builds a high threshold invites injury. (Prv. 17:19)
28 “When an oxgores a man or a woman to death, the ox must be stoned, and its meat may not be eaten, but the ox’s owner is innocent. 29 However, if the ox was in the habit of goring, and its owner has been warned yet does not restrain it, and it kills a man or a woman, the ox must be stoned, and its owner must also be put to death.” (Ex. 21:28-29). It doesn’t appear to give permission to slap a bumper sticker on the backside of the ox and say, “Caution, this ox may gore you. Not responsible for puncture wounds.”
33 “When a man uncovers a pit or digs a pit, and does not cover it, and an ox or a donkey falls into it, 34 the owner of the pit must give compensation; he must pay to its owner, but the dead animal will become his. (Ex.21:33-34)
There are just a few examples of these type of things. Why were they included in Scripture? Because, since the fall of mankind in the Garden, we have sought to use the excuse, “It’s not my fault.” Well, you might get some people to agree with you. However, God is the One that will ultimately judge whose fault things really are. That is why it is important to remember that, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Rom. 3:23). For that, God will not entertain any excuses. Whatever you do, don’t make the eternal mistake of thinking you will be able to stand before God someday and explain to Him how things were not your fault. We are declared guilty because it is our fault that we have sinned, that we have rejected God through our actions and thoughts. That is why Romans 6:23 begins with the awful news, “For the wages of sin is death.” However, we can rejoice that thanks to the grace and mercy of God, through faith in Jesus, the verse concludes with these incredible words: but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen and amen. When we own up to the fact that we have sinned and we repent of that, God is willing to forgive us of all our sins. It is the beauty of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
From our neighborhoods to the nations,
Pastor Larry
Pastor Larry White
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