Taking Responsibility

By Fatoki Ifeoluwa

Devotional Reading: “Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Please bring me the ephod.” So Abiathar brought the ephod to David. And David inquired of the LORD…” 1 Samuel 30:7-8a NASB

This is a story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody. There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that, because it was Everybody’s job. Everybody thought Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn’t do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have.

We live in times when people see a task, complain, and expect someone else to fix it. We’re good at spotting what needs to be done, but we rarely take responsibility. In 1 Samuel 30, David and his men returned from a raid, only to discover that their home had been raided in their absence. Their houses were burnt down, and their families were taken into captivity. They wept bitterly, an rightly so. But more than that, something had to be done. It is okay to cry after certain occurrences, but to do nothing after that is not okay.

Someone had to do something. This was where and when David took responsibility. While they all wept and spoke of stoning him, he asked the priest to help him with the ephod. And David inquired of God. While we do not need the ephod to reach God, we can and should pray.

David gives us a principle here. It is not enough to cry, something must be done. In his case, he prayed. What do you need to do in your own case? Do you need to make a call, or send a text. Do you need to try again where you failed, or start anew? Above all, take responsibility to pray. What will you do with this?

Prayer and Confession
Dear Father, thank You for Your Word to me this morning. I receive grace and strength to take responsibility.

Further Reading: 1 Samuel 30