The Law of Responsibility includes loving others. The commandement to love is the entire law for Christians. Galatians 5:13-14, "For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." Jesus calls this ""my" commandment, "Love each other as I have loved you." Any time you are not loving others, you are not taking full responsibility for yourself; you have disowned your heart.

Problems arise when boundaries of responsibiolity are confused. We are to love one another, not be one another. I can't feel your feelings for you. I can't think for you. I can't behave for you. I can't work through the disappointment that limits bring for you. In short, I can't grow for you; only you can do that. Likewise, you can't grow for me. The biblical mandate for our own personal growth is found in Philippians 2:12-13, "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." You are responsible for yourself, I am responsible for myself. An additional theme in the Bible says that we are to treat people the way that we would want to be treated. If we were down and out, helpless and without hope, we would certainly want help and provision. This is a very important side of being responsible "to."

Another aspect of being responsible "to" is not only in the giving but in the setting of limits on another's destructive and irresponsible behavior. It is not good to rescue someone from the consequences of their sin, for you will only have to do it again. You have reinforced the pattern. Proverbs 19:19 says, "A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: for if thou deliver him, yet thou must do it again." It is the same principle spoken of in child rearing; it is hurtful not to have limits with others. It leads them to destruction. Proverbs 23:13, "Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die."

A strong strand throughout the Bible stresses that you are to give to needs, and put limits on sin. Boundaries help you do just that.