Tag Archives: accountability

September 22
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“Honor God with everything you own; give him the first and the best. Your barns will burst, your wine vats will brim over.” (Proverbs 3:9-10, The Message)

Do we honor God with everything we own: Our time, our talents, our treasure; the power at our disposal by virtue of our position in life and its prerogatives?

If not, we are operating at a level far below both our potential for blessing the lives of others; and we have restricted the “return” from God to our own lives.

You are what your are; and you have what you have. Begin to give God the first fresh hour of your day, rather than the left-over minutes at its end. Give God a tithe of thanksgiving from the top dollars at the beginning, rather than the pennies that remain after everyone else has taken their due.

These small, but significant, steps lead to a life of usefulness, abundance, and joyful surprise.  – Luther

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April 16
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“The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” (Luke 12:47-48, NIV)

Accountability.

This passage is harsh (what with all the beatings — which are figurative, not literal, I believe), but it reminds we disciples of Jesus that we are (1) to know the Master’s will — in other words, “to study to show ourselves approved of God, a workman who does not need to be ashamed. . .”; (2) to maintain a state of readiness; and (3) to be obedient to our Master’s will. Being — or doing — otherwise always requires a painful reckoning.

This passage ought to remind us that we are going to be held accountable for what we know — and for what we ought to have known.  Be diligent in both the acquisition of the tools of discipleship — and in the use of those tools for the glory of God — so that when the Master returns, you may have reason for great joy when called to give an accounting of your stewardship of time, talent, and treasure.  – Luther 

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March 11
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“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” (Galatians 6:7, NKJV)

We need to beware of thinking — as most of the world does — that because we have “gotten by” that we have, “gotten away.” 

We sin, but because we often do not immediately suffer the consequences of our sin, we think that we have gotten away with sinning.  This is akin to thinking that just because we have, somehow, avoided being pulled-over by the sheriff for exceeding the speed limit, that it is somehow okay to exceed the speed limit.

Don’t be fooled. Unlike the sheriff in the illustration above, we shall have to answer to God for all of our transgressions. 

God’s commandments are for our protection, and for our provision. Just because we are successful in flouting God’s law does not mean that we are wise.  We shall be called to give an accounting, whether in joy because we have obeyed and Christ stands with us; or in tears, because we have sinned and have no defense.  – Luther

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