Unreliability, Untrustworthiness, Irresponsibility

Overcoming Sin through Christ

Scripture has much to say about the importance of reliability and a sense of responsibility.  Joseph showed himself responsible in the house of Potiphar in Egypt and was given full responsibility over all of his master’s goods (Genesis 39:1-6).  This Hebrew young man also showed himself trustworthy when Potiphar’s wife attempted to seduce him in private.  Joseph refused, saying, “There is no one greater in this house than I, and he has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife.  How then could I do this great evil and sin against God?”

The account says that “she spoke to Joseph day after day,” but “he did not listen to her to lie beside her or be with her.”  When further tempted, Joseph refused and ran away (Genesis 39:7-12).  Because of this, Joseph was thrown into prison but there he was given charge of all the prisoners.  He proved himself trustworthy in all these situations and relationships (vv. 19-23).

Jesus gave a parable of the unrighteous steward.  He didn’t commend the steward’s unrighteous and dishonest behavior, but He did say that we should be responsible with those duties and responsibilities that are placed on us.  Jesus said, “He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much” (Luke 16:10).

We must be faithful even in little things that God places in our hands.  A steward is one who has control of someone else’s property.  Jesus considers us stewards of God’s property. And Paul said, “It is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy” (1 Corinthians 4:2).  Does God consider you faithful and trustworthy on the job, in your marriage, with your children, and with the work of God?

It is sinful to be irresponsible, untrustworthy and unreliable in any area of our life.  We see glimpses of this quality in Scripture and also those who failed to remain faithful. Paul wrote about certain widows who incurred “judgment” because they were irresponsible with the duties placed on them (1 Timothy 5:11-12).  The apostle considered John Mark to be unreliable because he “deserted” Paul and Barnabas on their first preaching journey (cf. Acts 13:13 with 15:37-38).

Paul wanted to avoid any accusation of irresponsible handling of funds, thus he arranged for seven brothers to accompany him to Jerusalem along with the financial gift to the Jews (cf. 2 Corinthians 8:20-21 with vv. 16-19).  He also wrote to the brothers and emphasized that he didn’t work among them with error or impurity or deceit (1 Thessalonians 2:3).  He refrained from flattering speech and any amount of greed (v. 5).  He was able to affirm, “You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers” (v. 10).

Let us take Paul’s example (1 Corinthians 11:1; Philippians 4:9) and conduct ourselves in a responsible way before others.  Let us be trustworthy with the duties given to us on the job or around the house. Let us be reliable before others and also in secret.  Someone has rightly said that character is what we are when no one else is watching.