This is what the mindset of a son says: if it were my father's business, will I show this nonchalant attitude? Will I just walk away? Will I abandon the work? If it is my father's business will I allow the work to suffer? It is only an irresponsible son that will watch the father’s house go aflame and while it is burning, he decides to go and fight the fire in another man's house. "Charity begins at home they say." What you don't do or show to your immediate brethren and you show it off to those outside, is called hypocrisy. 1 Timothy 5:8 says; "But if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel."

This Scripture does not only apply to finance, it applies to every other thing; care, love, protection, direction etc. Whatever you have and you can't share, then you are worse than an infidel. It does not apply to men alone, it speaks to every single human being on the earth, who refuses to take responsibility to provide, especially his household or the household of faith. Lack of relevance is traced to lack responsibility.

Now what is responsibility? What does responsibility mean? I would simply say it is the state and a fact of being accountable or be blamed for something. I will be an irresponsible son if I don't see my Father's work as my meat. Jesus said to apostle John in the book of Revelations "What you see write it down and send to the churches." The responsibility of Jesus Christ is to show, the responsibility of apostle John is to write it down and send to the churches. If apostle John is not a good writer, would it have been a good excuse at this moment? He has to take responsibility to become a good writer, so that the church would be able to read his letters, understand and be blessed.

God’s responsibility is to plant a garden, Adam’s responsibility is to tend and keep it. God has structured this from the very beginning of creation. While God spoke light, the Spirit was gathering His words and the Son brought it into reality. Your first point of call as a husband is to take responsibility for your family. A husband who doesn't play with his kids and family and goes outside to do that is ignoring the fire in his house to go and fight another man's fire.  Joseph said; "How can I do this wickedness, and sin against God?" He took responsibility for His destiny; he didn't want to sacrifice his future for momentary pleasure. "Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies." He didn't refuse the delicacies and accepted the wine; what he refused, he refused!

How much attention are we giving to our lives and destinies? What are we refusing and what are we accepting? The knowledge or ignorance of this can either make us or destroy us. When you become aware take responsibility for it.

Moses refused to be called the son of pharaoh’s daughter when he became of age. He took responsibility for his purpose and life assignment. Abraham negotiated the destiny of Sodom and Gomorrah; he simply took responsibility for interceding for nations. Apostle Paul said when I became of age, I put away childish things. He took responsibility for his own growth. What are you taking responsibility for? Taking responsibility for your organization, your home, your destiny and the well-being of others is ultimately what I call "the mindset of Sonship".

When other religious leaders who think they were more qualified were by-passing, the good Samaritan who they thought was unqualified took responsibility and he was justified. Why? Because Jesus said "go and do likewise". Go and do like him, take responsibility for those you love, those you know and don't know, your friends, including strangers. One thing you must know and realize is that even dogs too benefit from the master’s table, meaning that no one is not worthy to benefit from you. Take the responsibility for service.

Let's examine the gospel of John chapter 6, beginning from verse 6. The Bible says; "And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do." We are looking at the life of Jesus as a perfect model to emulate, how He took responsibility. This verse we just read said, "He himself knew what he would do.” And this is where leadership begins — you knowing what ought to be done. Did we remember this phrase from the Book of 1 Chronicles 12:32 about the sons of Issachar? They knew what they ought to do because they had gotten a level of understanding about something; and what was it, Time!

Does this not sound like responsibility? It would be inappropriate or an act if wickedness to that generation if they understood time and refuse to respond accordingly. Each time a man, a leader, a general overseer, a boy, a girl takes responsibility or initiative, he/she is said to be wise. The expressions of initiative and responsibility is wisdom. No wonder the brethren of the sons of Issachar were subject to their command — it puts you in authority. We see this lack everyday in the church, in offices and in the nation as a whole, we have leaders who does not know what they ought to do yet they want to lead. If you must move into Sonship, if you must become a man and woman of influence then you must have this mentality or mindset of a son, it is sons that take responsibility.

Let's move ahead to verse 11. It says: "And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would." See what it says; "He distributed to the disciples" permit me to put it this way. Let's say He distributed to His sons or His followers then the Scripture says "and the disciples to them that sat down" Did we see that? So, this now gives us a picture of two sets of leaders that has followers. Jesus was a leader, He had His own followers and among the men that sat, were also leaders that have their own followers.

Two things come to mind here. Firstly, a leader must have something to feed the people. Remember He said in verse 10, He said; "make the people sit down." At this time we didn't know that there were other leaders following. If you have nothing to feed your followers, they will go after the leader that has, and a leader that has to feed is the leader that took responsibility. Remember we said He knew what ought to be done and because of that He was able to make the people sit down. This means that, any leader that has what to feed the people commands a greater influence.  

It also explains the fact that they were leaders that were hungry, and because they were hungry, they were willing to sit. Some leaders are neither hungry nor willing to sit and feed on the bread of life yet they want to command influence. Jesus gave His disciples and also the disciples of those who sat down. Because the leaders were following the greater leader there was an abundance and remnant of 12 baskets. If you cannot sit and be fed you will not be satisfied, and you will never have an abundance. Are you willing to sit and be fed? Until you are fed as a follower, or as a disciple, you will never become a son. Jesus said; "blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled"

Now this is the point I am trying to make, let us look at what verse 12 says; "When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost." When these leaders that were hungry were filled they picked themselves up, gathered their followers together and left. Does that show responsibility? At least courtesy demands a thank you right?  How did I know that? "Jesus said to His own disciples "gather up" He told them because others may have left. If they were to be available there would have been a responsibility for them. You see, others may have forsaken you as a leader, but you must pick the courage to gather up. You must take responsibility or else there would be lost.

There would be lost of destinies and lost of purpose. He said "gather up." When others have left, what responsibility did you take? Did you allow the harvest of the master to waste away or you took responsibility to gather up? That is the Sonship mindset. When everything about your life seems to be falling apart, Jesus is saying "Gather up" put yourself together. Suicide is not the way out, you must take responsibility to gather up that your life will not be a waste, so that nothing is lost". When you read the book of John 2:13-22, you will realize that the temple was in such a bad condition; nobody saw that there was something wrong with the temple. It seemed as if everyone were going about with their daily routine, buying and selling and making profit. And when Jesus got there He said, "Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise." Only a man with a Sonship mentality will do or say that. He said; "My Father's house" He knew exactly what the Fathers house was meant for."

Elijah Knew what ought to be done in Israel, and he made sure that the father takes His rightful place. If your earthly father is fighting over a territory, will you not assist Him? How much more your Father in Heaven. What are you taking responsibility for in your father's house? Because that is what truly makes you a son. 

Thanks for the gift of your time.

Thanks for the gift of your time, Apeh Francis Abah!
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