Prepare to WIN! -- Accountability

Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Read Matthew 25:32-46 and Ezekiel 3:17-21
By Arlene Thomas

In high school basketball, I enjoyed playing zone defense. Any player failing to defend their position around the goal was accountable to the coach. Likewise, God has assigned each of us a “position” for which we are accountable because He has given us everything needed to do the job.

Note in verse 36 of the first passage that Jesus said, “men . . . shall give account . . .” He did not say “unrighteous men” or “righteous men”; therefore, we can assume He is speaking of all men (women included).

In the second passage God held the prophet Ezekiel accountable for sharing His Word with the sinful and displaced nation of Israel. Centuries later, Jesus’ last words hold all believers accountable for sharing His Word with all nations. Our attitude should be, “As long as I am in this world, I will speak of God’s love and grace. I will reach out to those in need and I will go to whomever He sends me.”

Applying the Truth as an Individual
Do you take seriously your accountability to God?
Do you strive to please Him in your words and actions?
Do you use the resources with which He has blessed you to please Him?
Are you sharing Jesus with the people you encounter?

Applying the Truth as a Church
God will hold us accountable for our sins of commission as well as our sins of omission. Just as God’s prophets were the watchmen over the nation of Israel, God instituted the church to be the watchman of a lost world. Are we so concerned with traditions, possessions, pleasing others, and satisfying ourselves that we fail God?