WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ACTIONS, NOT THE REACTIONS OF OTHERS

Victor M. Eskew

 

            Sometimes, we focus on the wrong things as Christians.  This happens a lot when we are going about our work in serving the Lord.  It appears that we know what we are supposed to do.  However, rather than focusing on our actions, we get caught up in the reactions we get from our actions.  Let’s look at some examples.

            The Bible exhorts us to take the gospel to the world.  “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15).  Most Christians are aware of this obligation.  From time to time, we commit ourselves to fulfilling the command.  We talk to a family member or friend.  We go to a Saturday door-knocking event.  We might even go on a mission trip.  The problem we face is that we do not see the results that we desire.  Our family member gets angry with us.  Our friend tells us that he is not interested.  People shut doors in our face in our neighborhoods.  The week spent in a foreign country was fruitless.  Because of these negative reactions to our actions, we become cynical.  When chances to fulfill our obligation roll around again, we refuse to participate.  We tell ourselves that these things are lost causes.  We convince ourselves that no one is interested.  We reason that we have wasted a lot of time and money in our efforts to evangelize the lost.  Our problem is that have focused on reactions instead of focusing on our responsibilities.  The only thing that we need to be concerned about is our action.  The reaction is has nothing to do with us.  God will hold us accountable only for the things that He has obligated us to do.  Paul and Barnabas understood this.  In Antioch of Pisidia, the Jews rejected the message proclaimed by Barnabas and Paul.  This did not deter the two evangelists.  “Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you:  but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles” (Acts 13:46).  The rejection of the gospel by the Jews did not put a bad taste in their mouths regarding evangelism.  No, they continued to do what they were obligated to do.  They just turned to another group of people, the Gentiles, and took the message of salvation to them.  This is exactly how we should react when others reject our message.  Remember, we are not responsible for the reaction of others.  We are only responsible for our actions.

            The Bible also instructs us to do good.  “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith” (Gal. 6:10).  Doing good involves numerous things:  visits, phone calls, preparing meals, cards, flowers, gift cards, gift baskets, or monetary assistance.  We know we are supposed to do these things, so we do.  Not long thereafter, however, we grow cynical.  No one seems to care about our labors.  They do not visit the church.  They do not say:  “Thank you.”  There are no cards of appreciation.  We do good for weeks and weeks and weeks, but those who receive the assistance do not seem to care.  We become obstinate.  We start slacking in our duty.  We reason:  “If they do not care, why should we?”  Sometimes, we quit laboring in a work completely.  Jesus was familiar with ungrateful people.  He taught a lesson about nine lepers who were healed and refused to give glory to God in Luke 17:11-19.  “And Jesus answering said, Where there not ten cleansed?  but where are the nine?  There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger” (vs. 17-18).  Jesus was aware of the ingratitude of nine lepers.  Did He allow their negative reaction to stop Him from healing others?  Did He get frustrated and refuse to fulfill His obligation to others?  No!  In the very next chapter of Luke, Jesus is met by a blind man.  The man “cried, saying, Jesus thou Son of David, have mercy on me” (Luke 18:38).  He specifically requested for his sight to be given to him.  “And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight:  thy faith hath saved thee.  And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God:  and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God” (Luke 18:42-43).  I know this blind man was glad Jesus continued to serve, even after being despised by the nine lepers.  Jesus shows us that we are only responsible for our obligation to serve.  We are not responsible for the reactions of others to our service.

            There are times when our brothers and sisters in Christ fail to “measure up” to Christian ideals.  We, on the other hand, try to live right and do right.  The negligence on the part of our brethren causes us to grow cynical.  We begin to reason:  “If they are not going to do any better than that, why should I?”  We quit being as faithful.  We cut our service down to a minimum.  We do what we think is just enough “to get by.”  Dear readers, we must understand that we are not responsible for the reactions of others.  We might exhort our brethren to faithfulness.  We might rebuke them for their slothfulness.  We might confront them about their poor decisions, but nothing changes.  What are we supposed to do?  We are supposed to continue in our steadfast service to God.  “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto me” (Col. 3:23).  And again:  “”Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (I Cor. 15:58).

            There is not one verse in the Bible that says:  “Take it easy when you get discouraged.”  There is not one passage that teaches us to do less when we get negative reactions from others.  There is not one place that tells us that if others manifest negative reactions to us, then we can stop our faithful service to God.  Let us all remember that we are only responsible for our actions.  The reactions of others should be of little concern to us.  One day, those who reacted negatively toward our efforts will stand before God and give an account of their actions.  Fortunately, you and I will not be held responsible for their behaviors.  My friend, just keep on keeping on!