Does it seem to you that there are lots of irresponsible people in the world and it seems like all of them are around you at times? Responsibility happens when people care about their life, their family, the lives of others, their jobs, and really, every aspect of life. We live in a culture where people do not want to accept responsibility. Here are four quick ways to start being a responsible person.

1. BY SAVING MONEY

The average Japanese citizen saves 25% of their income. The average European saves 15%, the average American less than 5%. Why? We have bought into the instant gratification belief that I want it, therefore I must buy it. As a result the average American spends $1,300 for every $1,000 they make. God says people who live like that are fools – they are irresponsible. The number one cause for divorce is not adultery, not having an affair. The number one cause of divorce is not abuse. It’s debt. Fifty-four percent of divorces in America occur over financial problems.

Somebody asked John D. Rockefeller who at one time was the world’s wealthiest man, “How did you amass such a fortune?” He said, “It’s real simple. I give the first ten percent as a tithe back to God. I save ten percent. And I live on the other 80%. Not a bad starting point.

Like it or not God uses money to test you. He is testing your responsibility. The Bible says, “To whom much is given, much is required.”

2. BY CONTROLLING MY REACTIONS
You cannot control events or tragedies that happen to you. But you can control your response and reaction. One of the keys to responsibility is learning to control your emotional reactions.
The way we usually express our emotions is through words. Jesus tells us in the book of Matthew 12:36, “People will be responsible for every careless word they’ve said.”

I don’t like that verse! God says if you want to be responsible, you need to put your mind in gear before you put your mouth in motion.

3. BY GUARDING MY MIND
Let me relieve you of a little false guilt. You are not responsible for every little stray thought that flits or passes through your mind. Those can come from all different things. Conversations you overhear by accident, things you see by accident. The devil puts thoughts in your mind all the time. When Satan gives you a thought it’s called temptation, when God puts a thought in your mind, that’s called inspiration. What thoughts you are held responsible for are the ones you choose to hold onto and go over and over in your mind.

God is going to hold you accountable for what you think about by allowing it into your mind.

4. BY ADMITTING MY MISTAKES
The Bible says in the book of Hosea 4:4, “Don’t point your finger at somebody else and try to pass the blame.”

We’ve all blown it. We’ve all been irresponsible. The Bible calls it sin. What you need is a power beyond yourself. What you need is a savior who can forgive your sins, clear your conscience and break out of that cycle. Here’s the good news, “All of us have fallen [that’s a no brainer] yet now God declares us not guilty if we trust in Jesus Christ who freely takes away our sins.