Tuesday, 25 September 2012

Day #17 - Jesus’ Message: accountability



Day 17
Jesus’ Message: accountability
Read: Luke 19:11-27


One key theme of Jesus’ Kingdom and discipleship message is accountability. All humans are accountable one way or another.  Those following Jesus for resources and gifts they’re entrusted; those rejecting him for not seeing who he is, and responding to him through faith, confession and allegiance.   Today’s reading is set in the last week of Jesus’ life. He was near Jerusalem; the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once, so while they were listening he gave them a parable. The parable of the nobleman and his servants; note, he doesn’t give them gifts, he makes them stewards. They aren’t given ownership; they are entrusted with responsibility and accountability.
Jesus singles out three of the ten servants as examples, the first two did well. The third servant comes to accountability confessing failure of fulfilling his entrusted responsibility. Sure, its investment was risky, but he was specifically charged to take the risk of investing, in his case conservatism was born of fear and was wrong.
One day we will be accountable for our action and in-action. Accountable for how we have responded to Jesus’ directions through Bible reading, prayer, fellowship, inspirations and insights we’ve received through services of public worship and encounters with the “preached Word”. The King, who has gone away, is returning – but we also know that by the Spirit he is with us now. Accountability is not only future, it’s now. In the parable the first two stewards were not only accountable on the master’s return, as on a daily basis they took his trust and their responsibility seriously– that’s the inspiration to us.
 Ponder Point (reflect)
  • Accountability is the measurement of effectively pursuing one’s entrusted responsibilities
Consider (respond)
  • I’m called to serve God without fear – what am I doing?

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