Personal responsibility is a cornerstone of true masculinity, requiring a willingness to shoulder obligations without shirking or leaning on others. Honest, hard work is essential for success, far more rewarding than idle pursuits. The only cure for inactivity is to set worthwhile goals and engage in truthful labor; the only remedy for selfishness is self-sacrifice; and the only way to overcome timidity is to dive into duty without hesitation. This responsibility extends beyond personal gain to the care and support of others. A man must not dodge his obligations, whether they involve providing for his family or contributing to his community. With greater power comes greater responsibility, and failure to act can lead to significant wrongs with corresponding consequences. A masculine man takes pride in his God-given duties, solving problems independently as best he can, turning to others only when no other solution within himself is available. He does not run from heavy burdens but reorganizes and re-evaluates his life to carry on. In family leadership, a man must rule with selflessness, always considering what is best for all members and being willing to sacrifice for their benefit. True selflessness means giving not just material goods, but also time and energy for others' well-being. A man should not reason that earning a living fulfills his obligation, then spend remaining time on personal interests. Instead, he must devote himself to his family, going beyond the call of duty to experience satisfying fulfillment. In all tasks, even those unreasonable or hateful, a man should perform with cheerfulness and grace, not resentment. Going the extra mile, doing more than required, lightens burdens and brings enjoyment to responsibility. As a man loses himself in his responsibilities, forgetting selfish desires and striving to succeed in the calling given by God, he finds true purpose. Men must arise, begin working, and trust that the Lord will be with them in their efforts.

Many in society seek to evade personal responsibility by blaming others, even their parents, for their own failings. This tendency to transfer guilt reflects a broader cultural refusal to accept accountability, often leading to distorted language that avoids direct blame. During Ezekiel's time, Israel similarly erred by assuming they were judged for their forefathers' sins, believing their actions bore no consequence. They misunderstood the principle that while descendants may suffer the effects of ancestral sins, each person remains individually accountable for their own deeds. God counters this fatalistic view, declaring that the soul who sins shall die, emphasizing personal judgment. Through illustrations in Ezekiel, a righteous father, an unrighteous son, and a righteous grandson demonstrate that one's actions, not lineage, determine their fate. A righteous man upholds God's law by refraining from idolatry, adultery, oppression, theft, and unjust practices, showing faith through his conduct toward others. Conversely, an unrighteous son rejects these principles, engaging in cruelty and violence, while a righteous grandson chooses to follow God's ways despite his father's wickedness. God reaffirms that the son shall not bear the father's guilt, nor the father the son's. The righteousness of the righteous and the wickedness of the wicked rest upon each individual. Each person will give account of themselves to God, and He will judge according to their works. Though the effects of ancestral sins may linger, they do not predestine one to repeat them. Personal responsibility stands as the foundation of divine judgment: the soul who sins shall die, while the righteous shall live by their own choices.

When a culture liberalizes, one of the inevitable effects is a corresponding rise of irresponsibility among its citizens. Freedom, particularly the freedom from the death penalty due to sins and the freedom to obey God, is not free. It cost the life of our Creator and Savior, Jesus Christ, and it costs our lives as living sacrifices devoted to maintaining our responsibility to keep God's commandments and not be conformed to the world. Being responsible to God and the covenant made with Him requires vision, sobriety, understanding, and self-discipline. A person who is responsible is held accountable, answerable, and liable to uphold the standards set before them. Such a person holds themselves accountable to what they have promised, pledged, or obligated themselves to. They are deemed reliable, trustworthy, dependable, consistent, steadfast, resolute, determined, committed, and honorable. These are the qualities God seeks in us. Responsible individuals will suffer loss rather than break their pledge to another. In contrast, the irresponsible exhibit characteristics such as capriciousness, impulsiveness, and unpredictability. They make sudden changes despite commitments, showing unreliability and erratic behavior. They are inconsistent, fickle, and exhibit a carefree spirit, as though they should not be held to their word. Often rash and brash in promising, they may fade into unreliability under pressure, proving undependable and disloyal to both men and God. Even God cannot create God-level character by fiat. For our good, He must have our dependable cooperation in upholding our pledge to faithfully commit ourselves as the human clay through which He is reproducing Himself and His Son.

God has given each of us a specific responsibility, providing both the ability and opportunity to fulfill it, regardless of our perceived strengths or weaknesses. If we fail, it is not His fault, but because we have not done our part, letting down ourselves, each other, and our Father in heaven. God's purpose will not be thwarted; He desires for us to live up to our responsibilities in preparing for the next step in His plan to develop His Family for eternity. When we neglect our duties, even for a moment, it creates a significant void, causing harm to the Body of Christ. We must question whether we are falling short in our individual roles, leaving gaps that affect others. The pain and suffering we experience may be prolonged because we are not meeting our responsibilities in this final stage of preparation. Our focus must be on fulfilling the commission given to us, as how we perform our tasks now impacts the well-being of the entire church, both physically and spiritually. God may be using physical suffering as a warning that we are failing to live up to our individual obligations. Our primary responsibility is to become holy as God is holy, striving to be a united body in harmony. We are to overcome the influences of this world, not partaking in its ways, and follow the pattern of instruction God has established. Failing to do so, as seen in historical examples, can lead to consequences for the entire body when even one member neglects their duty. God holds us accountable for each other; we are our brother's keepers, responsible for one another's well-being. To whom much is given, much is required, and we have been given much. We must examine ourselves daily, ensuring we are not holding onto harmful influences that weaken the body, causing many to suffer. Our responsibility to one another within the holy Body of Christ is greater than we might realize. God expects us to strive with all our might to hit the mark, showing the same sacrificial love He has shown us through His Son. If we commit to overcoming and becoming holy, we will be pleasing in His eyes, and healing will follow as He has promised. Now is the time to confess our faults, change, and recommit to holiness with daily fervor, so the body may be healed.

Richard Ritenbaugh acknowledges that young people display a proclivity to accept socialism, oblivious to the horrendous damage socialist experiments have brought to the world. Politicians of the ilk of Bernie Sanders have fomented hatred toward capitalism by comparing it to an imaginary utopia. Economist Walter Williams insists that the free market, with all its warts, is far superior to collectivism at protecting people from poverty. Poverty is not usually an economic issue but stems from ethical and moral deficits. Socialism simply transfers wealth to the leaders of a government, leaving most of the citizenry in greater poverty. Williams, in his article, "Do These Four Things to Avoid Poverty," suggests that a young person, to keep his nose above poverty or failure, needs to (1.) complete high school, (2.) get a job, (3.) get married before having children, and (4.) be a law-abiding citizen. Poverty is self-caused—not the result of society, bad laws or systemic bigotry. Young people who drop out of school, take drugs, and fornicate set themselves up for failure. The law is no problem for those who obey it, but it will break those who break it, making it difficult to rebound.