“Building Your Life on Values That Last” in American Sign LanguageSample

What Is Your Greatest Ability?
By Rick Warren

“Live life, then, with a due sense of responsibility, not as men who do not know the meaning and purpose of life but as those who do.” (Ephesians 5:15 Phillips)

You and I have a variety of great abilities. For some of us, it’s the ability to do math, fix computers, or sew. We all have abilities — even if, at times, we need others to point them out to us.

But do you know what your greatest ability is?

Responsibility.

Responsibility is your ability to respond to life. It’s what makes you human — and it’s a gift from God. Much of your life hasn’t been in your control. You didn’t choose where you were born. You didn’t choose who your parents would be. You didn’t choose how your parents would raise you. You didn’t choose the unique gifts and talents you brought into the world.

Responsibility is how you handle everything else. God has given you the freedom to respond to what comes your way. How you respond to what life throws at you impacts your life more than any other factor.

In many ways, life is a test of how we handle responsibility. We spend only a fraction of our lives on this side of eternity. God doesn’t care about our achievements while we’re here on this earth. He cares about our character.

Our lives today are mere warm-up acts for what’s to come. God is testing your responsibility for what’s going to happen later on. God put you on this earth primarily for two reasons: to know him personally and to develop character.

In the past three to four decades, we’ve seen a steep decrease in responsibility throughout our culture. Many in our world live by the motto: “I’m not responsible for anything. It’s not my fault.”

That view is in stark contrast with what the Bible says. “Live life, then, with a due sense of responsibility, not as men who do not know the meaning and purpose of life but as those who do” (Ephesians 5:15 Phillips).

If you’re a follower of Jesus, you know that he is the one who gives meaning in this life. You can live responsibly because you know you’re a steward of the life you’ve been given. Responsible people make the most of the life they’ve been given.

How will you use the life you’ve been given?

Talk It Over

What are some of the ways you’ve seen irresponsibility affect the lives of people you care about? What are some ways you’ve seen it affect your life?

What is one area of your life — such as finances, parenting, relationships, etc. — where you feel you could be more responsible?

How can you make the change to be more responsible in that area?