Entrust and Obey

The “Sphere of Responsibility” concept challenges us to examine our role as stewards in life, family, and discipleship. While there are things we are called to do—faithfully, intentionally, and with diligence—there are also aspects of life that are under God’s sovereign control. Understanding the difference between these two domains is crucial, not only for effective ministry and relationships but also for maintaining peace in our souls.

When this principle is not functioning properly, it indicates a broken relationship with God, typically marked by distrust, self-reliance, or other forms of pride. Instead of being a secondary causal agent in God’s transformative work, we attempt to usurp His primary role, leading to becoming a “Mini-Messiah.”

The Smaller Circle: My Responsibilities
The smaller circle inside the larger one is our responsibility. In the outer circle, you see a sample of ideas and actions where we can cooperate with God in caring for ourselves and others.

1. Changing Others: We cooperate with God in the change process.
2. Stopping All Temptation: Temptations are part of life, perhaps to draw us closer to the Lord.
3. Pleasing Everyone: Even Jesus did not please everyone.
4. Overcoming All Sin: Sinless perfection will be in the next life.
5. Get All I Want: Only Satan would promise such a thing.
6. Staying Healthy: Our outer selves are wasting away.

You might also add:

1. Teaching and Counseling: These are intentional efforts to share biblical truth, providing guidance and correction to others.
2. Confronting and Modeling: Believers are called to lovingly address sin and model godly living, reflecting Christ’s character in practical ways.
3. Praying: A vital component of our responsibility is intercessory prayer, lifting others to the Lord while acknowledging our dependence on His power.
4. Discipling and Encouraging: This involves walking alongside others, building them up in their faith through relational investment.

These examples—in the graphic and others you can think of—remind us that we are active participants in God’s kingdom work, but our role is secondary. God alone can grant repentance, produce lasting heart change, and transform lives in a sustainable way (2 Timothy 2:25).

The Larger Circle: God’s Responsibilities
The larger circle represents God’s exclusive domain—those things that we cannot control, no matter how hard we try. As we think about God’s role, we want to think about these things, too:

1. Granting repentance and faith (Ephesians 2:8-9)
2. Transforming hearts (Ezekiel 36:26)
3. Sovereignly orchestrating events (Romans 8:28)
4. Producing spiritual growth (1 Corinthians 3:6-7)

Indicators of Overstepping: Becoming a Mini-Messiah
The right-hand column describes traits that surface when we encroach into God’s responsibility. These behaviors are red flags that we are overstepping: our sphere of responsibility has increased.

1. Impatience: A demand for immediate results, revealing a lack of trust in God’s timing (2 Peter 3:9).
2. Frustration: Internal agitation when others don’t conform to our expectations (Psalm 37:8).
3. Grumbling: Murdering someone in your heart because of unmet expectations (Philippians 2:14).
4. Gossip: Devaluing someone because they are not doing what you had hoped (Proverbs 20:19).
5. Unkindness: Being harsh, not regarding their well-being, lacking Christlike love (Ephesians 4:32).
6. Not Serving: Not ministering to others in love, prioritizing self over service (Mark 10:45).
7. Speck Fishing: Fixating on others’ faults while ignoring your sin, often self-righteously (Matthew 7:3).
8. Reactionary: Responding impulsively rather than measured, Spirit-led thoughtfulness (James 1:19).
9. Judgments: Critical of others with a condemning attitude, assuming God’s authority (James 4:12).

This list underscores the significance of staying within the lane of our God-given responsibilities, avoiding behaviors that reflect a lack of trust in His sovereignty. These traits expose a prideful assumption that we are indispensable, even in matters only God can handle.

Fruit of the Spirit: Indicators of Faithful Stewardship

The left-hand column of the infographic highlights characteristics that emerge when we operate within our God-ordained responsibilities. When working as secondary casual agents within our “sphere of responsibility, we are not compromising our walk with Christ, looking more like Him as illustrated with these characteristics.

1. Love: A selfless, actionable commitment to others’ good, rooted in God’s love (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).
2. Joy: Confidence in God’s promises, transcending circumstances (Nehemiah 8:10).
3. Peace: A settled trust in God’s sovereignty, freeing us from anxiety (Isaiah 26:3).
4. Patience: The ability to wait on God’s timing without frustration (Colossians 3:12).
5. Kindness: Practical expressions of grace and moral integrity (Ephesians 4:32).
6. Goodness: A consistent pursuit of what is morally right, reflecting God’s character (Ephesians 5:9).
7. Faithfulness: Consistent loyalty to God’s Word and His people (Proverbs 20:6).
8. Gentleness: Strength under control, evident in humility and compassion (Philippians 4:5).
9. Self-Control: A disciplined life governed by the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:23).

These traits signify a heart aligned with God, stewarding responsibilities well while trusting Him with the rest.

Practical Application: Making the Concept Function
Merely understanding the “Sphere of Responsibility” is not enough; it must be practiced. When believers fail to live out this principle, it often points to a deeper issue in their relationship with God. Perhaps there is unbelief, a struggle to relinquish control, or a prideful insistence on outcomes. Addressing these issues requires humility, repentance, and renewed faith in God’s sufficiency.

To make this concept function in daily life:

• Daily Reflection: Ask, “Am I taking responsibility for something that belongs to God?”
• Accountability: Share your struggles with a trusted mentor who can provide biblical guidance.
• Scriptural Meditation: Immerse yourself in verses that affirm God’s sovereignty and faithfulness (e.g., Psalm 46:10, Matthew 6:33-34).
• Prayer: Regularly confess tendencies to overstep and seek God’s help in submitting to His will.

Conclusion
The “Sphere of Responsibility” is not merely a theoretical framework; it is a practical tool for aligning our hearts and actions with God’s design. When we stay within our smaller circle—faithfully stewarding what God has entrusted to us—we experience the peace of relying on Him for the outcomes. Conversely, when we try to control the larger circle, we forfeit joy and invite frustration. Recognizing and correcting these patterns is essential for a flourishing relationship with God and others.

Case Study: Mable’s Story

Mable’s Situation
Mable is a middle-aged woman deeply invested in her family and church community. She frequently counsels younger women and takes on numerous roles in ministry. However, Mable has begun to overstep her sphere of responsibility by acting as though she is the primary agent of change in the lives of those she serves.

What Mable Is Doing:

1. Micromanaging her adult children’s lives, constantly offering unsolicited advice.
2. Pressuring her husband to adopt spiritual disciplines she deems essential.
3. Expecting immediate and visible results from her discipleship efforts with younger women.
4. Making decisions for others instead of allowing them to seek God’s direction.
5. Becoming overly involved in church disputes, seeking to resolve issues that are beyond her authority.

How It’s Affecting Her:

1. Impatience: She becomes irritated when her advice is not heeded or results are delayed.
2. Frustration and Anger: She frequently complains about others’ lack of progress or responsiveness.
3. Fear: She struggles with anxiety about her children’s future and the church’s direction.
4. Control: Her attempts to manage every detail leave others feeling suffocated and resistant.
5. Soul Noise: Mable’s internal restlessness keeps her from experiencing God’s peace.

These behaviors are fracturing her relationships and eroding her trust in God. Her controlling tendencies are a sign that she is functioning as a “Mini-Messiah,” attempting to take on responsibilities that belong to God alone.

What Mable Needs to Do:

1. Recognize Her Role: Mable must revisit the “Sphere of Responsibility” and identify the areas she is overstepping. She needs to acknowledge that she is a secondary causal agent and not the source of transformation.
2. Repent of Overreach: Confess her pride and self-reliance to God, asking for forgiveness for encroaching on His territory.
3. Renew Her Trust in God: Meditate on Scriptures like Proverbs 3:5-6 and Philippians 4:6-7 to restore her trust in God’s sovereignty and timing.
4. Redirect Her Efforts: Focus on modeling Christlike behavior, offering gentle counsel, and prayerfully entrusting outcomes to God.
5. Cultivate the Fruit of the Spirit: Commit to developing traits like patience, peace, and gentleness through the empowering work of the Holy Spirit.
6. Accountability: Seek the counsel of a wise, mature believer who can help her stay aligned with biblical principles.

Conclusion
The “Sphere of Responsibility” infographic is an invaluable tool for evaluating how we steward our roles and depend on God. By living within her God-given responsibilities and releasing the outcomes to Him, Mable can experience renewed joy, peace, and fruitful relationships. This change requires ongoing vigilance and a heart postured toward humility and trust in God.

I first heard this concept from Paul Tripp.

Find all our graphics here.

Peace,
Rick