There’s a growing apathy and a fear of responsibility that influences our generation. I watched a TV series recently in which almost every character intentionally avoided responsibility, ownership and hard work. 

Consider some of the examples from the TV series and a website of teenage mottos:

• The old motto was: “Success is more attitude than aptitude.” The new motto is: “Only do it if it makes you happy.” Success is no longer about being the best you can be. It’s now about having as much pleasure as you can have.

• The old motto was: “If you don't stand for something you'll fall for anything.” The new motto is: “Life sucks, then you die.” Purpose is no longer about fighting for a cause. It’s about living without one. 

• The old motto was: “The dictionary is the only place where success comes before work.” The new motto is: “Don’t sweat it.” Hard work is no longer a virtue, but an obstacle. 

All of the new mottos were humorously expressed into the TV series I watched. We laughed, but it was sad, because it revealed the heart of our generation. Welcoming responsibility used to be the pathway to success and a sense of purpose, but now that we’ve been told to seek pleasure, live for ourselves, avoid hard work, and reject authority, responsibility has become something to avoid, and even disdain. TV shows celebrate “the slacker.”

The Bible gives a very different message:

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Colossians 3:23-24 NIV).

If you are to achieve a work-life balance, you’ll need to embrace responsibility and ownership for your role in each of the areas God’s given you. Your productivity in those areas is of great concern to God because home, work and church are responsibilities he’s given to you, through which he intends to receive glory.

More about this in the next blog post…