The Buck Stops with You

Ever know people who like to pass the buck of responsibility onto the next person simply because they feel they have a right too? They chronically expect others to carry the brunt of their responsibilities. They’re selfish, self-seeking and prone to tantrums should someone insist they conduct themselves like responsible human beings. They are routinely ill-mannered and immature.

However, all things must come to an end.

When I was a child, I spoke as a child. -

Much like everything else in the history of creation, human beings have stages or seasons of development. When babies are born, there’s very little they can do on their own—and that’s okay. No one expects a 2-month-old child to be able to pick up their toys or clean their room. No one expects a 7-year-old to grill hot dogs on an open flame or drive us to the store when we are tired. Why? Because they’re not developmentally mature or experienced enough to handle those tasks. However, as they grow older, their capacity to do more increases with them. The same is true with people.

Some people are used to passing the buck because they have not yet matured. This was the case with the children of Israel. On many occasions, God’s people routinely exhibited signs of immaturity, selfish ambitions and rebellion. Remember when Moses was on Mount Sinai? The people grew tired of waiting for Moses to return from the mountain and built animal statues made from gold. They worshipped those false gods and engaged in unholy behaviors before God. How about when Moses’ sister and brother (Miriam and Aaron) challenged Moses’ authority because of their own selfish-ambitions?

The bible says that when we are young, we act like we are young. However, when we are older—more mature—we should conduct ourselves accordingly. Can you imagine an adult in a business suit sitting in a highchair eating from a jar of Gerber’s baby food? Of course not; the person would look absolutely ridiculous. The same holds true for the believer who refuses to grow up. Refusing to cooperate with the Holy Spirit, who lives inside each of us, will yield foolish decisions and carnal-centered behaviors. It will cause us to operate in a manner that is contrary to God’s will for our lives. When this occurs, we decline to accept responsibility for ourselves. Instead, we cast blame on others and justify our actions.

God desires that we would prosper even as our soul prospers. In order for our soul to prosper, we have to recognize our faults. We have to accept our short comings, own our mistakes and take steps to correct them. We have to allow the word of God to renew our minds. We have to allow the Spirit of God to rebuild our hearts. We have to allow the truth of God to be a lamp onto our feet. This is the chosen path for every believer. Buddhists similarly have a “path to enlightenment,” which causes them to examine themselves.

©2010-2012 Minister Claretta Taylor Pam, Global Ecumenical Ministries Inc. and Universal Life Church Monastery of Massachusetts. All Rights Reserved