The Principle of Volitional Responsibility
You come home from a hard day at work, and so does your husband. It’s your turn to pick up the kids and his turn to pick up dinner. You get home and get the kids settled. After breaking up their two arguments and picking up pieces of a throw pillow the dog chewed, you sit down and wait for your husband to arrive with pizza. Only when he walks through the door, his hands are empty. As soon as he sees your face, he bangs his hand on his forehead. “Dang, I forgot the pizza.”
Before giving him a chance to explain, you insult him and then order pizza for delivery and fume about your irresponsible husband. Later, when everyone has their stomach’s full, your husband apologizes again, but not you. You have nothing to apologize for. If your husband did what he said he would do, you’d not have said those things. Besides, everything you said was true, so there.
Let’s be honest, this has happened to all of us in some form or degree. Emotions can get the best of us, but how we handle the aftermath defines who we are. Do we handle it responsibly, even if others don’t? Or do we blame the other and defend our bad behavior? Our response is always an act of our volition. We always have a choice.
Volitional responsibility is just a fancy way of saying that you take responsibility for your OWN actions, regardless of the other person’s conduct. In the above scenario, the husband failed, but so did the wife in reacting out of anger. Both are wrong and both need grace, because none of us are perfect or without flaws. We all make mistakes.
When we take responsibility for our actions, regardless of the cause, we not only display integrity, but show we can be trusted. When others see we are honest with our behavior, it encourages them to do the same and opens up a conversation for resolution. Struggling to own our actions is a red flag that pride and human nature is controlling our soul.
But He gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” James 4:6 (NIV)
Volitional responsibility is also making right choices, like not spending beyond our means, or bar hopping on work/school nights. When we choose to be responsible for our own actions, we make decisions based on what is best for us and what pleases God. Often we don’t know what pleases God, and only want to please ourselves and fall prey to foolish decisions. That is where the washing with the water through the Word (Ephesians 5:26) comes in to play.
God’s Word cleanses our minds and gives us godly wisdom that will never fail us. Volitional responsibility begins with the choice to be filled with the wisdom of God’s Word. It’s through this solid foundation that we are humbled and able to make the right choices in life. But even more, it allows us to admit when we are wrong and frees us from the sin of pride.
Take a moment and ponder if you are honest regarding your actions. It takes strength of soul to admit when we’re wrong, especially in light of the actions of others. If we ask the Father for strength, the Holy Spirit will give us the power to do so, and in the end, bless us.
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature will from that nature reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Galatians 6:7-8 (NIV)
I have prayed for you today. I prayed for you to seek God’s wisdom and strength to make the right decisions and all the transforming work of His Word fill your soul.
God bless.
~ Application ~
View failures as opportunities to learn from your errors. When you make a mistake, admit it without excuse. Others may be partly to blame, but you are responsible before God for own behavior.
Reflect on your decision and actions and apologize sincerely for your part. Don’t excuse it by blaming others. Their behavior is between them and God.
You cannot judge another man’s servant. His own master decides if he is doing well or not. Romans 14:4 (NIV)
~ Challenge ~
Consider a recent encounter with someone you may have been short with or even gotten angry at. Put to action the application above and apologize to the person for getting short or angry. Watch God open doors and bless you when you humble yourself before Him. Pray for His strength to do so.
