The Gift of Responsbility

Last weekend I had a great talk with a father about parenting.  The father told me that one morning he woke up, and told his son that he would teach him how to ride a bike when he got home from work.   When the father got home though, the son was already riding his bike!  The father said he was surprised, so asked his son how he learned how to ride.  The son said that the neighbor taught him. 

This upset the father, because he felt like the responsibility of helping his son learn this important new task was stolen from him.  I was confused by this statement, and wondered how a neighbor’s “random act of kindness” could be considered an act of theft.  I don’t have kids, so be honest, I thought this man was just being childish.

I explained to the guy that I didn’t understand why he was so upset, and in my opinion, the neighbor did something nice for him.  The father patiently explained to me that he had been looking forward to teaching his son how to ride a bike, but now that would be impossible.  The father was sad, because he realized that he and his son would never share the memory of his son’s first bike ride.  He also realized that he wouldn’t earn the trust of helping his son accomplish the goal of riding a bike.   In essence, the father said that responsibility brings about fulfillment and satisfaction, but he wouldn’t have that fulfillment of carrying out his responsibility. 

That statement really amazed me, so I spent some time thinking about it.  I realized it was true, and realized two things about responsibility:

1. When you neglect the responsibility that you've been give, you are actually missing out on joy that God wants to give you.
2. Christians are the most blessed people in the world.

I always thought responsibility was a pathway to hard work instead of a pathway to joy.  Although I had to work, I thought the point of working was to save up enough money so I could retire to a Caribbean beach and sip margaritas.  In fact, I thought the pathway to joy was by seeking comfort and irresponsibility.

Even though I used to complain about my job, I always enjoyed having one.  Why is that?  I think it’s because there is fulfillment in work, and I believe that because of what the bible says.

Read this from Ecclesiastes 5:

18 Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat, to drink and enjoy oneself in all one’s labor in which he toils under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him; for this is his reward. 19 Furthermore, as for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has also empowered him to eat from them and to receive his reward and rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God. 20 For he will not often consider the years of his life, because God keeps him occupied with the gladness of his heart.

It is evident that work carries the weight of responsibility, but from what I understand from Ecclesiastes; work is good, and to enjoy it is a gift from God.  If work is a good, then why don’t we enjoy it?  Sometimes it’s because we have a twisted view on what it means to work and how to work, and sometimes it’s because we aren’t asking God to teach and empower us to enjoy our work.  Maybe we feel pressured to live up to unrealistic expectations that we or someone else places upon us.  Maybe we are trying to become rich at the expense of our values and morals.  Maybe we haven’t asked God to help us find peace in our circumstances. I’ve found all of these things to be true in my own life.  With this said, I encourage you to examine the reasons behind any current discontentment in your work before you labor work or responsibility as a curse.

So, I believe that responsibility brings about fulfillment, because of 3 things:

1. My experience
2. The experience that others
3. And ultimately because I believe the bible says it as well. 

And that realization (the realization that responsibility brings fulfillment) acts as a base for my statement that Christians are the most blessed people in the world.  In my next point I’m going to talk about how I came to that conclusion while watching a zombie movie with my friend, but until then, I hope we can see joy in our work.  As for me, I know that I need to be reminded that it’s a privilege from God.