Our Responsibility

Every person has their own unique lot, their own moment, their own opportunity, and their own responsibility. God does not ask anyone to bear what is meant for another; He only asks us to be accountable for what is rightfully ours. It is sufficient for each individual to account for the gifts and responsibilities entrusted to them, for there is no room for doubt or question about what belongs to us.

Once, a young man, impressed by the strong faith of a friend, said—half in envy, “I wish I had your faith.”

The friend replied, “You have no right to my faith. It does not belong to you any more than my size, my weight, or my special training. If you had it, you would find that it would not suit you.”

The young man persisted, “Well, at least I wish I had more faith than I have.”

The friend answered, “Why would you want more faith than you already have? You aren’t even using the faith you possess. If you used the faith you have, you would find that you would have more. If you had more faith right now, you would simply have more unused resources to answer for.”

Let us give thanks to God that He will not call us to account for what He has not given us. But let us also remember that we must give an account for how we use all that He has entrusted to us.

Slander carries all the venom of a serpent, yet lacks its beauty.