I never liked the sound of the word onus, but I like its meaning: “burden, duty, or responsibility”.  One of the 11 Marine Corps Leadership Principles I learned years ago is: “Seek responsibility and take responsibility for your actions.”  Within the military context and in my opinion, no one can (or should) force you to take on leadership responsibility you are not seeking, otherwise it will be forced and likely end in failure.  The opportunity is there, and it’s yours for the taking if you want it; but the “onus” is on you…the initiative must come from you for it to be real, impactful, and lasting. 

Spiritually speaking, in the same way, the Lord does not force you or me to do anything.  He can and will make our lives very uncomfortable to bring us to the brink of surrender, and I firmly believe He has taken some on home who fully “lost their savor” (Matt. 5:13).  But while we are living, He does not force us to do things we do not choose to do.  This is called free will: the ability to decide – given the appropriate information – what we will do, or in which direction we will go.  It is free will which allowed Adam and Eve to choose to eat the forbidden fruit, but it is also free will which allows us to repent and follow Jesus.

I’ll paint a picture using myself and my family.  I can take up the mantle of responsibility, the “onus” as the head of my household, to teach my family how to walk in daily surrender to Jesus.  I can “lead by example” (another leadership principle), applying God’s Word in my relationships with them, and among those outside our home.  I can quote Scripture, preach sermons (as I’m prone to do), and live a godly life every day.  But one thing I cannot do?  I cannot fix their “want-to”.  I cannot make them love and serve God with their time, energy, and resources.  I cannot force them to truly repent when they do wrong.  I cannot make them surrender their will to God’s.  Those are actions only they can take WHEN they agree with God and humbly follow His lead.  More accurately, when God – through the power of His Word and the prompting of His Holy Spirit – illuminates the darkness inside them, and they turn from that darkness to His marvelous light (1 Pet. 2:9), He affirms their decision and increases their faith, which results in obedience.  As parents we can create opportunities and an environment conducive to positive spiritual growth; we can put up guideposts to keep our children within the left & right lateral limits, pointing them in the right direction; but ultimately, they must take the “onus” of faith upon themselves to allow God to change them from the inside out.

Now, if I cannot force my own family into submission to the Lord, what in the world makes me think I can force anyone else?  I cannot.  You cannot.  As the saying goes, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink”.  As followers of Jesus, we are all simply messengers – tools in His hand – blessed with the talents He has given to preach the gospel and make disciples.  The results are ultimately up to Him, as He guides us toward those who are willing.  If I waste His time, resources, and talents on unwilling people, or on things which do not align with His mission, then that also falls on me and no one else.  

Question: What is one thing that will NEVER happen at the Judgment Seat of Christ (for believers), NOR at the Great White Throne Judgment (for unbelievers)?  Answer: Blame shifting.  In other words, “Fred” won’t be able to blame “George” for his lack of rewards, and “Sally” won’t be able to blame “Maggie” for her own rejection of Jesus.  Each person will stand alone before God to give an account for themselves (2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 20:12-15). If the “onus” of our faith were completely on God and not on us, then the New Testament would simply be the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Why did Jesus give us the Great Commission?  Why did the writers of the New Testament epistles use so much ink to tell us how to conduct ourselves as Christians living in a fallen world? Because in fact, it is the responsibility of each follower of Jesus not to just chill in the sunlight of salvation, but to live out their faith using whatever gifts and talents He has given.  If God has given you one mite’s worth of talent, it is your responsibility to throw that thing in the coffer with all your might and watch God multiply it (Luke 21:1-4).  If you have been given three, five, or 100 talents?  You better use them all for His kingdom, because that is why He entrusted them to you (Matt. 25:14-30).  Jesus said in Luke 12:48, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.”

I said all that to say this: if there was ever a time to toss out our personal reservations, inhibitions, and fears like yesterday’s garbage (Phil. 3:7) in exchange for service to Jesus, it is today.  If there was ever a time to prayerfully discover (or rediscover) the gifts and talents God has (and has not) given to use for His glory, it is today.  If there was ever a time to cast off religious, cultural, and societal restraints which prevent us from simply obeying Jesus, it is now.  The Master cares not about those things.  He will not hear excuses.  No one will hold your hand when you stand before the Man.  No human institution, denomination, or witness will be called upon to verify or validate your works, because He already knows them.  Jesus said “Whosoever will come after Me, let him deny himself, take up HIS [very own personalized] cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23).  On that day of judgment, it will be you and Jesus.  What will you have done for Him?  What will you do now?  The onus is on you, and the onus is on me.  Our loving and gracious Master has given us everything we need for the task, and He is worthy of the best we have to give!  I encourage you today to give Him your very best, not just what is left.