As I pray and linger over Romans 12:14-21 my eye is
continually drawn to the phrase, "If it
is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." I
think the reason this sentence strikes a chord with me is because through the
counseling ministry we teach this concept, except we call it; Personal
Responsibility.
Personal Responsibility refers to the idea that
regardless of the situation or circumstance we find ourselves in, we will mindfully
choose to examine our own thoughts, actions and reactions as opposed to the
thoughts, actions and reactions of others. Instead of concentrating on what
others have said and done, we reflect on what we have said and done. Rather than
pointing the finger at the failings of others, we look inward and examine our
own heart and motive. Jesus himself explained this same model that Paul is
teaching here in Romans when he said, “Why
do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention
to the plank in your own eye? How can
you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the
time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out
of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your
brother's eye" (Matthew 7:3-5).
As many of you know, I co-counsel with a pretty handsome
and wise man. Recently in a counseling session he made a statement that I have
not yet forgotten. We were talking with a couple about Personal Responsibility
and he said to them, “I want you to assume that the success of this
relationship solely depended on you.” It got me to thinking…what if we all
assumed that same motto in our relationships? What if a wife said, it all depends on me. What if a husband
said, it all depends on me. What if
an employee said, it all depends on me.
What if a Christ follower said, it all
depends on me. What if we quit repaying evil for evil, what if we did our
best to live at peace? What if we did not retaliate with vengeance? What if we
did not allow the ways of the world into our heart, but rather lived a
transformed life by loving, and clinging to what was good. What if we thought
of others more than our self, honored one another, and served one another? What
if we gave up our rights to be first or in control? What would our
relationships look like then, and would they be any different?
Remember what Romans 12:1 says? We are to offer our
bodies as “living sacrifices.” I’m not saying this way of life is pain free,
and I’m certainly not saying it’s the easier way. In fact, I’ll just say
it…this standard of living is hard work. Dying to one’s self is never
pleasurable. But, if we continue reading we see that this lifestyle is holy and
pleasing to whom? God! And, not only that, Paul says, “it is our true and proper worship.” It’s exactly what God expects and wants us to do.
Consider this: I can’t control the thoughts, actions or behaviors
of others and neither can you. Yet, we waste so much time and energy trying to
do so. The truth is, only God can change people. However, what if the change
needed was suppose to begin with you? What if God only needs one person to
start the revolution? What if your godly behavior began to influence those around
you; your spouse, children, neighbors, coworkers? What if God had a plan to
soften and transform the hearts of others, but he needed and wanted you to go
first? Would you be willing to live out Romans 12, and practice humility and
sincere love? Would you be the hands and feet, arms or legs that God needed to
minister to others?
Read it with me one more time, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace
with everyone.” Let me ask you a final question…What if change depended on
you?
Blessings,
Christy Garison, Serve Minister
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