“So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.” [Romans 14:12]
MY MOTHER AND I FREQUENTLY TANGLED when I was a teenager. I’m not saying that I was right and she was wrong. I see things a lot differently now than I did then. I realize that my immaturity, pride, and unwillingness to see things from her point of view often caused me to react disrespectfully when she said or did things that I felt were wrong or unreasonable.
But more than once, my dad stressed two important points to me: (1) you must honor your mother and give her due respect—period—regardless of what she does; and (2) you are not responsible for what she does—you are only responsible for how you respond to her. The issue wasn’t whether my mom was right or wrong; the issue was whether my responses were right or wrong. Nothing she—or anyone else—might do could justify a sinful reaction on my part.
How many times have you blamed certain aspects of your lifestyle and makeup on shortcomings in your upbringing? How many times have you allowed your spouse’s words or the actions of a friend or colleague to provoke you to respond in a sinful way?
The truth is, life will present us no shortage of people and situations that rub us the wrong way. Some offenses are merely annoying and aggravating; others are grievous injustices. In either case, we will never be held accountable for what another person says or does; we are only accountable for our own attitudes and responses.
Don’t fall for the lie that says other people have the power to make you bitter, resentful, touchy, or explosive or that their wrongdoing (perceived or real) justifies ungodly responses on your part. By God’s grace, you can avoid pouring fuel on the fire. With a wise, humble spirit and a “soft answer,” you can overcome evil with good.
Have you found yourself recently overreacting to others’ words, actions, or disapproval? How might a keener awareness of your accountability to God help you handle things differently? [The Quiet Place]
