RESPONSIBILITY

KEY POINT: We are fearfully and wonderfully made by God, so we have a responsibility to make things fearfully and wonderfully.

As a child, I was given a very important job to do when my father came home from work.

He would come home, weary after a long day at the office, and as he came in, my job was to go to the car and retrieve his briefcase.

It was my father's way of telling me that, in some way, even at a young age, I was expected to contribute to his efforts to care and provide for us day after day.

One time, however, I went to the car and couldn't find the briefcase.

My fear and dread that I would disappoint my dad grew as I frantically searched under the seats and in the trunk.

Finally, almost in tears, I gave up and returned to the house to admit that I'd failed to find the briefcase.

My father's response?

He gave me the biggest bear hug I can remember.

That moment taught me a valuable lesson. My dad was not as concerned about whether I finished the task. Instead, his primary concern was how seriously I took the responsibility.

My story demonstrates how important it is to be diligent with the assignments we're given - especially by a loving Father.

When God created the heavens and the earth, He took responsibility for the ultimate care and nurturing of the universe, but he also delegated responsibilities to those He created - us.

We are given a mandate to walk out, a solemn duty to make things better than we found them.

We do that by continuing to be diligent in our tasks, relentlessly creative and innovative, and reverently responsible as we interact with God's created world.

You see, it's not OK to simply waltz through life. If we wait for others to make things better for us, we abandon the responsibility God gave Adam and Eve to tend to Eden.

The Hebrew word God uses in Genesis when He gives this mandate to Adam is šāmar (shaw-mar). It means to oversee, keep, and observe diligently.

As always, God models what He mandates.

We are made fearfully and wonderfully by an incredibly creative God. That implies care, time, intention, and forethought. He was diligent, thoughtful, and careful to do things exactly right.

In the same way, let’s follow our Father’s example in how we approach our tasks. Since we were made fearfully and wonderfully, let’s make things fearfully and wonderfully.

As you work for Him, create for Him, and serve in His created world, remember the purpose you've been given - to be a good steward over what He's placed in your hands and make it better through discipline and reverence for your work.

The Father has a bear hug waiting for you.

ACTION STEPS

As you review the tasks / to-dos / projects you're undertaking, remember that you are fulfilling your God-given responsibility to be diligent with your work and responsible for the impact you've been called to make.

If you use a to-do list, write today's verses somewhere on the page and review them throughout the day to remind you of the deeper purpose behind your work.