“My dear brothers and sisters, if someone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back, you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back from wandering will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins.” (James 5:19-20 NLT)
It worked both ways in the case of two siblings I knew in my youthful days. When it came to doing their assigned chores, one held the other accountable. When it came to abiding by the parental rules, the other held his sibling accountable. When it came to it came to the siblings using their strong points to help each other with areas where improvement was necessary, they held each other accountable. It all worked out!
The siblings are now senior citizens and are serious Christians when it comes to living according to the word of God. They meet weekly, as recommended by their pastor, to have coffee at a local café one morning every week. As they discuss plans, problems, predicaments, potential changes, and possible ventures, guess what they do? They hold each other accountable to living by the principles set forth in the word of God. It still works out and leads to good decision making and continuous walking on the straight and narrow path of righteousness.
Each one of us, including you and me, need to adopt that same practice of holding others accountable, particularly fellow believers. They may be living under the same roof. They may be the person you sit by in your Sunday School class or on the same pew during Sunday morning worship service. They may be family members who think they in charge of their life, but actually they are in need to be reconnected with the One who should be the head of their life.
We need to be more than good listeners, go beyond being one who thinks are just a shoulder to lean on during hard times, or persons who simply echo thoughts like, “It will be alright!” or “Well, in time you will figure it out.” We need to hold each other accountable. Perhaps we should amend our sayings to, “It will be alright if you let the Lord direct your path.” or “Well, in time you will figure it out, but if you want to expedite the figuring it out, turn to God who will surely work it out.” Or “In time you will figure it out if you spend some time in the word of God.” Just a making a few amendments, some small adjustments to what we say, that will result in us holding others accountable. That will reveal our love. That will remediate behaviors that lead to negative consequences.
Grapple with what you have just read this Wednesday morning. Give it a try! Get somebody back! And, have a wonderful day! Be blessed!
“Everything in the world is about to be wrapped up, so take nothing for granted. Stay wide-awake in prayer. Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless—cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God’s words; if help, let it be God’s hearty help. That way, God’s bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and he’ll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything—encores to the end of time. Oh, yes!” (I Peter 4: 7-11 The Message Bible)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King