Accountability

Our Responsibility to the Creator

Before the mountains were born or You gave birth to the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God. You turn man back into dust and say, “Return, O children of men.”—Psalm 90:2,3 {Scripture citations are from the New American Standard Bible, except as noted.}

Kent Humphries

Today as we read through our newspapers and watch our favorite television news programs, we come to realize an underlying theme. No one is facing up to his or her own duties and responsibilities! Nowhere is this more prevalent than in national politics. Why is it so hard for people to face up to their actions? This should not be the case with Christians.

Turning to the first book of the Bible, we find the answer. Adam replied to God, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate” (Genesis 3:12). Here we have the first excuse ever recorded in history. And from this point we can read through the Scriptures and find excuse after excuse, until we reach our modern day. So it is no surprise, that the human family is immersed in deceit and disobedience.

Responsibility means to be “answerable or accountable, as for something within one’s power or control.” There is an account given in the Book of Luke of a young boy who understood fully the burden of responsibility that had been placed upon his shoulders. The following example should be burned, as it were, upon every action that motivates us! This is Jesus’ response to his mother when questioned by her as to his whereabouts: “How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49, KJV). And the same applies to us. We have been given a charge that is greater than any commission given to man! Jesus expresses the great responsibility that has been placed upon us at the Father’s will: “To you has been given the mystery of the Kingdom of God; but those who are outside get everything in parables” (Mark 4:11).

The seriousness of this revelation is again expressed by Jesus: “Take care what you listen to; by your standard of measure it shall be measured to you; and more shall be given you besides. For whoever has, to him shall more be given; and whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him” (Mark 4:24,25).

What we have received is only because of Christ! Our righteousness is as filthy rags, but now his robe of righteousness covers us! In the book of Ephesians, the apostle Paul teaches us the example we should exhibit as a result of this gift that has been given us by our heavenly Father: “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you, and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. But do not let immorality or any impurity or greed even be named among you, as is proper among saints.” (Ephesians 5:1-3) He goes on in verses 14-17, “For this reason it says, Awake sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

Are we appreciative when we are given a gift from a loved one? How much more should we be to the Father whose gifts and calling are irrevocable (Romans 11:29). The example of Jesus in the giving of his life is incorporated in the apostle John’s thoughts: “We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” (1 John 3:16). It is possible that this might be one of the last tests in our walk in this narrow way, for so it was for our Lord. Not only did he give his life, he did it willingly, in obedience to God!

Paul expresses what the heavenly Father desires from us as we walk in the path of his light: “I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:1,2).

From Paul’s admonition we deduce that this is the least we can do! Our Father is not expecting us to do something impossible; we are to heed his instruction to be one with him. Sometimes we get the impression that by sacrificing continually we can obtain the prize, but this is not true. The answer is clearly given in the book of Samuel. In his conversation with Saul, Samuel explained the basic tenet of how to please God: “Has the LORD as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry” (1 Samuel 15:22). There is no other way to sacrifice than to heed his word, to be obedient to the instructions he has given us in his holy word.

In this racecourse for the prize of the high calling which we share with those of like precious faith, we must be extremely careful not to stumble those who walk in the same light! Though from time to time we may disagree with some that do not perceive as we, we must not let Satan use this as a wedge between us. We are not only responsible to God, we are responsible to one another, for we share the same gift from him who called us out of darkness. In the Fifty-fifth Psalm, David in his wisdom calls to our mind the trust and hope that binds us together. As is the case with so many Scriptures, it has a two-fold meaning, a meaning that in our case is especially applicable to today! We read beginning at verse 12: “For it is not an enemy who reproaches me, Then I could bear it; Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me, Then I could hide myself from him. But it is you, a man my equal, My companion and my familiar friend; we who had sweet fellowship together, walked in the house of God in the throng.”

Are we satisfied with our accountability to God? We are to make a daily assessment of our actions and our deeds to call upon the mercies of God through prayer. We are nearing the last hour of this classroom time. There will be no other opportunity to render sweet obedience to the giver of every good and perfect gift. We have been called to be priests with Jesus, to sit upon thrones in the presence of God. We are to judge men and angels, and to dispense blessings to mankind according to the will of God. It is our responsibility to make sure the instructions from God’s word are burned within our hearts, to be a reflection of his mercy. “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things; and the God of peace shall be with you.” (Philippians 4:8,9).

Returning to the words of the apostle Paul in Romans, the eighth chapter, we see that our responsibility to our Creator is so important, that so much depends on the faithful completion of our calling and election. Beginning at verse 22: “For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of child-birth together until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.” (Romans 8:22,23)

This is our responsibility to our Father in heaven.