One of the biggest lies we believe is that we are not responsible for our own actions. We blame our mothers, our employers, our neighbors, the government, or society. But the Bible clearly indicates who is responsible and accountable for our deeds: “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God” (Rom. 14:12 KJV).
We may attempt to shift the blame to others, but there is no escaping the truth: every time we point a finger at someone else, three fingers point back at us. Don’t blame anyone or anything for the circumstances you find yourself in. If you do that, you are saying you are powerless over your own life. Winston Churchill said, “The price of greatness is responsibility.”
Accept responsibility for your actions. Be accountable for your results. Take ownership of your mistakes. “The moment you take responsibility for everything in your life is the moment you can change anything in your life” (Hal Elrod).
I believe that God wants us to learn most things for ourselves because what we learn for ourselves stays with us deeper and longer than anything we learn from others. Mark Twain wrote, “A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn no other way.”
Throughout my early career as a consultant, I met many businesspeople who were looking for answers. I was amazed to see how many were anxiously searching for help from other people when they had everything they needed to succeed. They were willing to give up control of their vision to others in exchange for money, or simply because they didn’t want to be alone. It isn’t always easy for leaders to be by themselves. Their mistake was in looking to others instead of looking to God. The false sense of security they found in others led them to unbalanced relationships; relationships that eventually resulted in the destruction of their dreams.
God sends people across our paths to bless and help us, but we should be directed by God and very cautious when entering into any partnership. We must be sure that the reason for the relationship is right and sure that we aren’t merely looking for a shortcut.
For every successful partnership, there are hundreds of disasters. Exercise great caution when you affiliate with someone else. In Exodus, God gave Moses some good advice that is applicable to Christians today. He said, “Be careful not to make a treaty with those who live in the land where you are going, or they will be a snare among you” (Exod. 34:12).
Faith is like a toothbrush: everyone should have it and use it every day, but we shouldn’t use someone else’s. Decide for yourself. Learn for yourself. Answer for yourself.
Accept responsibility for your life. “Take responsibility and initiative for yourself. Stop blaming your circumstances on what you are able to change” (Sonya Teclai). Know that it is you who will get you where you want to go, no one else. The best helping hand you will find is at the end of your own arm.