The Buck Stops Here
President Harry Truman had a sign on his desk with “The buck stops here” inscribed on it. And maybe just to remind himself, “I’m from Missouri” was inscribed on the reverse side. What President Truman meant by “the buck stops here” is that he was willing to take ultimate responsibility for the decisions and actions of his administration.
It is commonly thought that “pass the buck” originated with the game of poker? In the early frontier days, a buckhorn-handled knife was often used to indicate whose turn it was to deal. If that person did not wish to deal the next hand, they could simply “pass” the buck. Sadly, in today’s culture, and let’s be honest, all throughout history, the “buck” gets passed all the time. We are quick to evade responsibility and “pass” it to someone else. We blame others for our own decisions and mistakes. Very simply, “It’s not my fault.”
And in the Bible, there are also accounts of passing the buck. In Genesis, after both Adam and Eve ate the apple, what was their response? First, Adam blamed Eve by saying, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” and then Eve pointed the finger at the serpent, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate. Pilate tried to absolve himself of any responsibility in the killing of Jesus. In Matthew 27:24 we read, “When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. ‘I am innocent of this man’s blood,’ he said. “It is your responsibility!’”
No matter the outcome, no matter what the consequences might be, we are called to take responsibility for our own actions, to carry our own load. In Galatians 6:5 we find, “For each will have to bear his own load.” The Greek word used here for load is phortion. This word was often associated with a soldier’s backpack, something that must be carried by each soldier individually, their own responsibility, and not transferrable to someone else.
If you know that section of scripture, you might now be confused. In v.2, Paul instructs us to carry each other’s burdens. So, isn’t v.5 contradicting v.2? I do not believe it does. The Greek word for burden (load) in v.2 is different than found in v.5. In v.2, the word is barē, which is a load of extreme weight, too heavy for one person to carry by themselves.
It is God’s will for us to have personal integrity, and we are told in Scripture that what we ask in His name, according to His plans and purposes, will be given to us. Jesus, in his final marching orders to His followers, said these words in John 14:13 – “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” So, we need to humble ourselves and ask for God’s help in living a holy life, which includes taking responsibility for our own actions or inactions.
Are you willing to say “The buck stops here” when the situation warrants you saying that? We all at times have passed the buck, shifted blame to others. That is just the reality of our sinful human condition. But today, right now, you can ask God to forgive those sinful moments and for strength and courage to always bear your own load, even when the consequences of bearing that load are heavy.
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