Last one out turn off the light

Published 9:00 am Sunday, July 31, 2016

The Bible says, “. . . and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more” (Lk.12:48).

The statement, “The last one out turn off the light” is a simple reminder of the most basic responsibility that each of us has.  When people say they don’t like being told what to do, my response is, then learn to do it without being told.   And remember others don’t enjoy repeating the same order to the same person either.

We live in a very irresponsible society today.  We want the right and freedom to do what we will without any consequences. Instead of owning our mistakes we wiggle our way out with some excuse for our bad behavior.  Forget the idea that we actually had a choice in the matter and no one made us do it. 

We are so irresponsible that we can’t do the simple task of flushing a toilet or turn off the water and lights.  Many stores have put in completely automatic restrooms.  Now everything; the toilets, faucets, and lights operate by sensors.  We might say this is pure genius, but what it really says is that we were so irresponsible, and inconsiderate of others that someone had to pick up the slack.  Everything is run by automation because we with the brains can’t seem to operate them or won’t.

Responsibility and accountability are a must if we are to have a sane and safe world.  In order to have a safe and sane world where people are responsible and held accountable there must be a standard that all must go by. 

In an ideal world that standard would be the Bible.  And many years ago in America it was the standard whereby we judged ourselves.  Today it would be hard to find a church that actually uses it as a standard.

We’ve departed from that standard that taught responsibility and accountability because our sinful nature abhorred it.  As a result, our country’s become lawless, its citizens licentious, and vagrant, and irresponsible.  We’re an ungodly nation where truth is relevant and men do that “which is right in their own eyes.”

Politicians break every law in the books but don’t suffer the consequences because those that should hold them accountable are guilty of some crime themselves.  It’s like the old saying, “Dirty hearts make weak hands.” 

As men become “lovers of their own selves” (2 Tim. 3) they will think less and less of their duty to their fellow man and become more irresponsible.  Government will then have to get bigger to step in and take up the slack.  Citizens will scream that their rights are being violated, but the truth is they were not responsible enough with those rights to deserve the freedom to exercise them, so they were taken away.  Because with rights come responsibility and accountability. 

We don’t like being responsible or accountable to a corrupt government that’s getting more powerful and taking away our rights and so the citizens rebel and anarchy ensues.

Where would we be today if we had kept our biblical standard that taught the proper responsibility and accountability of both state and citizen?

James H. Cagle is a resident of Ray City.