It all used to be fairly straightforward for me.
A real man was accountable to no one—except to God, of course. And I considered myself a God-fearing man, since I instinctively understood that I’d eventually have to answer to Him.
But that was way down the road…
Besides, I already had my ticket to paradise—or so I’d reckoned. I’d been forgiven for all my transgressions because of the blood Christ shed on the cross. I was eager enough to accept God’s free gift of redemption, but not eager enough to commit to a lifestyle which reflected His expectations for me. That didn’t happen until I’d gained enough maturity as a disciple of Jesus Christ to competently lay hold of the means to fulfill those expectations.
And that was freedom indeed.
Because I wanted my life to count for something, but I instinctively knew it wouldn’t just happen. And, over time, I came to realize that goal could only be achieved like any other serious commitment could. If I really wanted to lay down my life for Christ, I was going to have to take time away from other things—not just stuff I liked to do, but also stuff I needed to do.
This road to becoming His disciple seemed to lend itself to a form of suffering…
One of the most comprehensive statements Jesus Christ made about being His disciple was actually spoken to His disciples:
“For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things. But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you. Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.” [Matt. 6:32-33] [my emphasis]
So how can effectively “seek His kingdom” everyday with my words and actions?
Maybe by realizing that, first and foremost, accountability is a crucial ingredient of the learning process. And that those who claim to belong to Christ are walking on thin ice if they refuse to make themselves available for encouragement and insight from other faithful brothers regarding their conduct.
But, to be able to discern God’s word correctly is yet another dimension of accountability. Jesus Christ’s parables in the Gospel accounts clearly assign the responsibility for His servants to engage themselves in the practice of being informed. [e.g. Lk. 12:42-48]
Abundance in the Christian life will never materialize without the appetite to develop it.