Accountability

Accountability.  Not a word we talk about too often.  I've actually only heard it when it is suggest to those who are battling an addition. But today I want us to look at other areas of accountability.

The word accountability means, "responsibility to someone or for some activity".  As Christians, we are all accountable to someone - in fact, many someones - depending on our age and stage in life.  We have specific responsibilities in regard to accountability.  The Bible actually  shows us the dangers of living a life without accountability.  In order to realize how you and I are accountable in various areas of our lives, we must be totally honest with ourselves and others in our lives, but most of all, we must be honest with God.  After all, He knows the truth, anyway!

Let's look at some of the areas of accountability:

As children of God:  
Obviously, the most important area of our accountability is to our Heavenly Father. He is our Creator and He knows us better than we know ourselves because He knows everything about us.  We will give an account of our lives to God on Judgement Day.  We are responsible for the way we choose to live our lives and will be held accountable for the way we live it.  His gift of salvation is free because of Jesus Christ dying for us.  What we do with that free gift is up to us.  We'll be held accountable.

So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. 

Romans 14:12

In marriage: 
Married couples are accountable to their mates.  Husbands and wives say vows on their wedding day pledging their love for each other as they enter into a life-long commitment.  Those vows hopefully stated that each would love, honor, and cherish (or something like that), but also to remain faithful until "death do us part".

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Ephesians 5:21 (and following verses tell more about husbands/wives)  

As Parents and Guardians:  
Parents are accountable to their children.  It is the parents' responsibility to teach their children right from wrong.  The parents should take care of the children's physical needs, nurturing them and guiding them so that they, themselves can become mature and responsible adults.  Parents care for their child's emotional needs, and should be examples and teachers within their spiritual lives. However, when those children grow up, they become accountable for their own lives.  Parents can still help and guide, but the choices and decisions the children make eventually must become their own accountability issue.

 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

Deuteronomy 6:6-9 

“If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.  Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come! 

Matthew 18:6-7

As Children: 
Children are accountable to their parents, as well.  Children must (or should) obey their parents, respect their parents, and honor their parents.  (Of course, this is only when it is in accordance with God's Will.  Unfortunately, in many situations, parents aren't accountable for their own actions and the children are the ones who are hurt the most.)

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise.

Ephesians 6:1-2

In other relationships as employee/employer.....friends and coworkers.....students/teachers, etc. and as citizens in our town, state, and country:
In all relationships, we must be fair, honest, trustworthy, and truthful. Being accountable is accounting for what we are up to, whether we are young or old, male or female.  We have responsibilities and it is our "job" (whether paid or unpaid) to fulfill those "jobs" to the best of our abilities. We are responsible and accountable to others and they, in turn, are accountable to us.

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 

Romans 12:17

Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: … For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. 

1 Peter 2:13, 15

In the church:
Brothers and sisters in Christ are accountable to each other and to the leaders....the elders of the church (also called shepherds, overseers, and pastors.....always plural).  The elders are accountable for the church they serve.  Just as a shepherd takes care of his sheep, the elders should care for the "flock".....for the church.  They will give an account for themselves, but also for their "flock".

So in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 

Romans 12:5

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

 Hebrews 10:24-25

Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.

Hebrews 13:17

To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.

1 Peter 5:1-3

It takes time, energy and love to hold someone accountable.  It takes humility and trust to be held accountable.  Sometimes accountability may be scary.  Sometimes it may be hard.  But in everything, being held accountable and holding others accountable is realizing that we are serving God by doing so.  We are serving Him because we know that we are ultimately going to be held accountable by Him.

Accountability is not about judgment here on earth. It is about love.  Loving ourselves and loving others so that we may be what God has called us to be. 

Are you willing to be accountable for your life? Are you willing to love someone enough to hold them accountable in their walk with God?

Seeking the Lost

Yesterday afternoon my son, Jacob, was telling me how he had lost seven golf balls when playing golf earlier in the day.  I was shocked!  Seven???  How??  Why??  When I go with the boys golfing and they lose a ball, I make them look for it and I help them. Then we also look for other lost balls to make up for the ones we don't find!

I asked Jacob about why he didn't go find the lost balls. Here are his answers:

#1 Went in the water...
#2 Was by a SNAKE!!!  (Okay, this one I totally understand!)
#3 Was over the fence in the cow pasture.
#4, #5, #6, and #7???  Well, it seems Jacob was just too lazy to look for these last lost balls.

What if we, as Christians, used this same logic for seeking the lost - the spiritually lost?  What kind of servants of God would we be?

#1 We don't seek to save those that seem unreachable.  We're afraid to get out of our comfort zones and tell others about Jesus.
#2 We let the devil trick us into believing teaching others about Jesus is too scary.  We are afraid to reach out to others.
#3 We see those who are different than us and decide not to "cross over" into unknown territory and talk to others about their spiritual state.  We build walls and fences around others or around ourselves....restricting our service to God.
#4, #5, #6, and #7 We are just too lazy to do what the Lord has asked us to do. We use excuses about doing what we know we should be doing and what we know God wants us to be doing:  It's too hot, too cold, too early, too late, too far, too close, too......whatever.  Excuses.

Of course I wouldn't have wanted Jacob to go into the small pond of water or near the snake to get his lost golf balls, but I was a little bit upset that he hadn't tried to find any of the rest of them.  Surely he could have at least tried!

What would God think of our excuses in the examples above?  Would he approve or disapprove?  Would he pleased or displeased?  Unfortunately, we often-times use excuses and are selfish when it comes to our command of telling others about Christ.  Instead of obeying Him, we take matters into our own hands and make decisions based upon what we think is right instead of by what the Bible says is right.

Jacob will be looking for those lost golf balls just as soon as he has an opportunity to golf again.  He's not off the hook! I'm certain that God expects us to be seeking the lost for Him, too.  We're not getting off the hook, either!

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." Luke 19:10

Luke 15 (click to read whole chapter at Bible Gateway)

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” 

Matthew 28:19-20

The Magic Words

Last week our youngest son, Tyler, and I were having a conversation on the golf course.  He was talking about something that had happened the day before when he and his two brothers were playing golf.  I'm not sure what the conversation was, but what I do remember was this statement:  "Mom, the older men always say "thank you", but the younger ones don't.  They don't say anything."

My mind quickly went back to the "Barney" years....when Barney videos and the TV show was a big part of my four children's lives (especially the oldest three).  A song that Barney would sing was "Please and Thank You".  I sang part of it for Tyler that day and talked to him about how it is good to be polite and how that, although those two words aren't really "magic"....they are showing kindness and courtesy to others. 

Here are the lyrics:

There are lots of things

We can do to be nice,

Sometimes they're hard to remember.

But there are two little things

You should never forget,

From January through December.

He's talking 'bout please and thank you,

They're called the magic words,

If you want nice things to happen,

They're the words that should be heard,

Remember please and thank you,

'Cause they're the magic words.

Use 'em in the morning, at noon, and night,

'Cause it's a great way to be polite!

Please and thank you,

They're the magic words.

We're talking 'bout please and thank you,

They're called the magic words.

If you want nice things to happen,

They're the words that should be heard!

Remember please and thank you,

'Cause they're the magic words.

Use 'em in the morning, at noon, and night,

'Cause it's a great way to be polite!

Please and thank you,

They're the magic words.

How about you?  Do you say "please" and "thank you" all of the time?  Some times?  Rarely?  Are they "magic words" to you, meaning that you appreciate hearing those words from others?  A Christian with good manners is just one more way in which we can "Shine Like Stars". 

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 

Colossians 3:15

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 

1 Thessalonians 5:18

 A person finds joy in giving an apt reply — and how good is a timely word!

Proverbs 15:23

The Hand of God

In the past few weeks, there have been a few things that have happened for a few of our family members that have been unexpected.  And, while they have been unexpected, they have become a blessing in each of their lives - and in turn become a blessing to their families and those around them.  As a matter of fact, it is very obvious with each of these situations that God's hand is at work in each of them....just a blessing from Him out of the blue!  What a wonderful thing to acknowledge!

But then I think of a few bad things.  Sad things.....scary things.  Sometimes in the hard things in life, it is really hard to see God's hand at work.  Sometimes it is hard to even want to see His hand in trials and struggles.  We just want it gone and out of our lives.  We want His deliverance and we want it NOW!  That's natural.  We don't like bad times for ourselves or for our loved ones.  None of us do.

So, as I think about family and friends experiencing blessings and other friends and family members experiencing trials, my thoughts return to the Hand of God in both of these extremes.  It is important to look, see, and acknowledge God's Hand in the good, but also to look, see, and hold onto God's Hand in the trials.  Stepping out in faith in His blessings is just as important as stepping into His arms in trials.  We must realize in both situations - that He is in control, and that He is our comforter, protector, and our loving Father.

Praise be to you, LORD,

the God of our father Israel,

from everlasting to everlasting.

11 Yours, LORD, is the greatness and the power

and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,

for everything in heaven and earth is yours.

Yours, LORD, is the kingdom;

you are exalted as head over all.

12 Wealth and honor come from you;

you are the ruler of all things.

In your hands are strength and power

to exalt and give strength to all.

13 Now, our God, we give you thanks,

and praise your glorious name.

1 Chronicles 29:10a-13

For Better or For Worse

When my husband and I said our wedding vows over 23 years ago, the phrase, "for better or for worse" was a part of the vows.  It's a good thing they were!  Not that this is the "worst" thing that could happen in a marriage at all, but some of these things, if not handled in a mature way, could become some of the "worst" things.

I've always been clumsy, a little scatter-brained, and have many "blonde" moments (as the jokes say :).  I've learned to deal with these "issues" and just laugh at myself - there isn't anything else I can do.  Well......I suppose I could cry and have at times......but laughing makes it all more bearable!

This photo was taken a few months after we moved in our first owned home.  It's the same one we live in now.....eleven years later.  I think the month was August, though you can't see the month in the photo.  Why?  Because, after I hit the garage all those years ago, and my husband so sweetly drew the circle around it, put my name on it and dated it, I've hit it a few times more through the years!  I guess he didn't want me to forget what I had done!

I've had other "issues" too:  Locking my keys in the car (with the latest one this past Friday in Oklahoma City), locking myself out of the house, backing into other cars in parking lots (with the latest one last Wednesday), scraping the side of our old mini van, backing out of the garage with it still closed, backing into our daughter's car in the driveway, and many, many other situations like that.  Sadly, there have been a lot of situations like that in our 23 years! But, rather than dwell on the problems I've had...and the money they may have cost....and the trials they may have caused at the time, do you know what I remember?  I remember that with each of those problems and situations, my husband's response has always been the same.  He has never once gotten mad or angry in any of the situations.  He has never questioned what I was doing or thinking (maybe he was afraid to ask??: :)  He's never once made me feel worse than I already did, but actually made me feel better.  He's always found a way to make it seem like no big deal.  He's a great example for our boys on how to react to situations they will or may face when they, themselves, are married (although I hope their wives are less clumsy than I am!!).  Joe's response is always kind....it's never mean.

"For better or for worse."  Those simple words in wedding vows really aren't that simple.  They say a whole lot.  They make a bold statement in the commitment of a marriage.  God expected marriages to last through the good and the bad.  That can only happen when there is love, forgiveness, support, and total commitment of both the husband and the wife.  It can only happen with both spouses are willing to make the worst better - not make the worst...worse.  Thank you for your response and reaction, Joe, to all of my "worse" issues!  I love you!

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8