“From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” – Luke 12:48
We’ve all heard it a thousand times, be careful what you pray for, or you might actually get it. Blessings carry with them responsibilities, and if we are not willing to accept those responsibilities we should probably think twice about asking for it in the first place.
If there’s anyone on earth who is in need to be constantly reminded of this it would be me; for my life has been showered with blessings from the time I was born. Yet, how often have I ignored the responsibilities that go with them! It’s an ancient failing, so at least I’m not alone, although that hardly excuses my shortcomings. God’s relationship with humanity according to the biblical story centers on the blessing of the Hebrews as His chosen people. But in being chosen came the responsibility of upholding God’s laws, and sharing His blessings with others. The biblical story is a rollercoaster ride whereby some Hebrew generations accepted that responsibility wholeheartedly while others ignored it, living instead as if they were entitled for being the chosen ones. We who have been blessed in our own day seem to ride that same rollercoaster, don’t we?
In his book, Give and Take, Wharton Business School professor Adam Grant sets out to explore how a person’s intentions impacts his or her long term success. In his research he identifies three categories of people: Givers, those who are genuinely generous in their behavior; Takers, those who tend to be in it for themselves; and Matchers, those who often behave like givers but with an expectation of reciprocity or quid pro quo. What he concludes (in my words not his) is that takers tend to jump ahead early on, matchers know how to play the game, but in the long run it is the givers who tend to rise to the top, who understand the real meaning of accepting responsibility.
Blessings carry with them responsibilities. “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” And as one who has been showered with blessings, I must constantly be asking myself how I will respond. Will I be a giver or a taker? How about you?