There seem to be more conversations lately about people accusing their neighbors and friends of not being responsible and ignoring simple activities that would be a common event in times past. What has happened to people that they do not want to be responsible for themselves or anything else? In times past a person’s self-worth and status was measured on how they took care of their family, their community, and themselves. Being responsible is defined as being liable to be called to answer or to account for something like a cause, motive, or agenda such as a job or duty. Being responsible is being a reason that something works or does not work properly. Responsibility is being willing and able to answer for one’s conduct or obligations. Finally, being responsible means a person is accountable and trustworthy. 1 Corinthians 3:8 reminds us that “He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor.”
Irresponsibility can be found in many circumstances. The definition of irresponsible is not being capable of handling assignments or taking responsibility. An example of an irresponsible person is someone who constantly forgets to do his/her assignments, refuses to take care of their family, abuses someone’s kindness, abuses alcohol, immaturity, and a multitude of others. Many irresponsible persons are easily identified but sometimes they are harder to grasp. “Mindtools”, an online training and teaching site (https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/taking-responsibility.htm) suggest there are several things to watch for. Paraphrasing the article, an irresponsible person could lack interest in their work and the success of their workgroup. This person would blame others for their shortcomings, consistently missing deadlines. They would avoid new duties, complain and engage in self-pity, and openly show a lack of trust, and have an excuse for every situation. Irresponsibility causes conflict and harm to families and children. Irresponsible parenting can show up as neglect, physical and verbal abuse, not allowing trust in their relationship, showing favoritism, and not allowing a child to be a child. The irresponsible parent that displays irresponsible behavior financially by not providing for the family, abuses drugs and alcohol, and blaming the family members for their injurious behavior does irrefutable harm to the children, the family members, and themselves. This sometimes results in the parent abandoning the family which has a devastating effect on the children. “GoodTherapy.org” warns parents that “A child who was abandoned by a parent or caregiver may have mood swings or anger later in life. These behaviors can alienate potential intimate partners and friends. A child’s self-esteem can also be affected by a lack of parental support. Abandonment fears can impair a person’s ability to trust others. (June 4, 2018)”
Leland R. Beaumont in “EmotionalCompetency.com (2005-2009) states, “Responsibility without choice is torment. This is the tragic curse suffered by scapegoats and other innocent people falsely accused and wrongly blamed. Choice without responsibility is greed. This is the selfish attempt to get something for nothing that is the wasteful and harmful excess of cheaters, playboys, egotists, and tyrants. Escaping responsibility is at the root of the commons. Taking responsibility for our choices provides the symmetry of reciprocal exchange and the basis for trust. Responsibility is a congruence between the actions we choose and our values. Responsibility unleashes choice. Whenever we think, decide, choose, and act we are exercising our personal responsibility. Deciding to accept responsibility for our choices increases the range of choices considered acceptable by others. It allows autonomy to increase without decreasing relatedness. We always have more responsible and less responsible options to choose from.” It is always easier to avoid responsibility on the short term, but by not accepting responsibility will always cause issues that someone will inherit and must deal with in the future. Irresponsible employees do great damage to their work group and their employer which can usually be repaired by terminating the irresponsible employee. Galatians 6:5 states, “For each will have to bear his load.” The employer must be accountable for the group and the business. Irresponsible parenting causes damage that may not become apparent for years to come and may never be repairable. The idea of the irresponsible parent is not new, 1 Timothy 5:8 states, “But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”