July 12
Taking
Responsibility
"If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them."
James 4:17, NIrV
Jake had been running his van service for a few years, helping people clear out unwanted rubbish from their homes. It was a good job, one that allowed him to stay busy while helping people get rid of old furniture, appliances, and other things they no longer needed. Most of the time, the work was straightforward—he’d pick up the items, load them into the van, and drop them off at the local recycling center or waste disposal site. But there were times when Jake found himself tempted to take the easy route, especially when a client was in a hurry or didn’t want to pay for the full disposal fee.
One such morning, Jake got a call from a new client, Mrs. Simmons, who needed her garage cleared out. The job was going to take a while, and Mrs. Simmons wasn’t in the best of health, so Jake knew she would be pleased if he could get the job done quickly. As he loaded her old furniture into the van, she mentioned that there was a pile of old cardboard boxes and trash at the back of her property. She didn’t want to deal with it, but asked if Jake could just take it with him and drop it somewhere discreet. Jake hesitated. He knew the right thing to do was to take the waste to the proper disposal site, but there was a quiet, secluded road a few miles away where he could easily dump it. No one would see. It seemed like the easy solution, and it would save him time.
"Just this once," he thought to himself. "It’s not that big of a deal."
So, Jake drove down the quiet road, finding the perfect spot to dump the rubbish. It felt like no harm was done. He quickly drove away, feeling relieved that the job was done early and with little effort. But as the day went on, the guilt started to creep in. Something didn’t sit right with him. Jake had known what the right thing to do was, but he had chosen to do the easy thing instead.
Later that evening, as Jake sat on the couch and reflected on his day, he found himself turning to the Bible for some guidance. He had always been taught that following God's will meant doing the right thing, even when it was hard or inconvenient. He opened his Bible to James 4:17 and read the verse: "If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them."
Jake felt a pang of conviction in his heart. He had known the right thing to do, but he hadn’t done it. The verse made it clear that even small actions—like dumping rubbish in a quiet spot instead of disposing of it properly—had consequences. The guilt was real, but it was also a chance for Jake to grow and learn from his mistake. He didn’t want to live a life of shortcuts or avoidance, knowing that he had been given opportunities to do good and make a positive impact, even in his job.
The next morning, Jake woke up early and drove back to the road where he had dumped the trash. He felt a bit embarrassed, but he knew he had to take responsibility for his actions. He spent the next hour picking up the rubbish and properly disposing of it at the recycling center. It was hard work, but it felt right. As he drove away, Jake felt a sense of peace, knowing that he had made things right, both with God and with himself.
Prayer:
Father God,
I come before You today, asking for forgiveness for the times I’ve chosen the easy way instead of doing what is right.
I confess that I have fallen short of Your standard, but I am grateful for Your mercy and grace.
Thank You for the opportunity to make things right.
Help me to be more mindful of the choices I make in my daily life, and give me the strength to do what is good and just.
When I am tempted to take shortcuts, remind me of Your Word and help me to follow Your will.
Thank You for guiding me and helping me grow.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
