Is No One Responsible?
April 20
The integrity of the upright guides them...
Proverbs 11:3
The judge instructed the jury, "You have been given a tremendous responsibility. Not only are you being asked to return a verdict for the defendant, you are also setting legal precedent for all future claims against tobacco companies." He paused, letting the truth of his statement sink in. "And regardless of your personal feelings, you are required to return a decision that reflects what actually happened in this case."
The judge cautioned the jurors, "I'm sure most if not all of you have questions about this case." Every head bobbed in affirmation. "I’m sure you know they cannot be addressed in open court." He finished instructing the jury and released them to deliberate. Once in the jury room a hand was immediately raised, "Yes, what is it?"
"It's evident the defendant has suffered tremendous physical and medical problems as a result of his use of tobacco,” the female juror responded. “…and will continue to do so until his death. During the trial, one question continued to surface in my mind and I wanted to ask the judge for his opinion. I want to know under what circumstances a person is responsible for their own actions?"
Continuing, she explained, "Mr. Roberts didn't ask for cancer...but he continues to smoke to this day, knowing his actions may take his life. Is he not responsible, at some point, for any and all consequences?"
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Our actions bring either reward or consequence, and at some point we will reap what we have sown. Ultimately, Mr. Roberts was responsible for smoking...no one twisted his arm. Whether smoking caused his cancer cannot be empirically proven. Yet, should he be rewarded simply because tobacco manufacturers provided him with cigarettes?
Sadly, our self-serving society makes every effort to profit by placing blame on someone or something other than ourselves. Yet, when we are rewarded we fail to attribute our good fortune to others in an attempt to see them benefit. Why is that...and what do we do to curtail the epidemic? The answer is simple...we must become a people of integrity, taking responsibility for our actions.
Prayer
“Lord, help me be part of the solution and not the problem in today's court system. Help me be a person of integrity and wisdom. In Jesus' Name, amen.”
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