Readings: II Samuel 22:2-33; 23:1-4; Psalm 4; Matthew 11:28-30
We must hold ourselves accountable. If we do not, we may find ourselves on the wrong side of the law. Whenever we interact with others, there is accountability involved for all of those interacting with each other. If we don’t honor our accountability when driving, we will be found accountable by Law Enforcement. If we don’t hold ourselves accountable to our financial responsibilities, we will find ourselves in debt to others and may be imprisoned. If we don’t hold ourselves accountable for our thoughts and feelings and act upon them, we will probably find ourselves at odds with others when what we want interferes with their wants and desires. If marriage partners don’t hold themselves accountable to each other, the marriage covenant will soon break apart, and if we don’t hold ourselves accountable to a higher spiritual Authority we will live empty lives full of frustration and fear harboring petty grievances against some impersonal Power as well as our fellow human beings.
It can be scary to have a personal relationship with a Supreme Being. This is the idea in Scripture behind the phrase “to fear God.” To “fear” God is not to be afraid of Him as you would be scared of a bear or a great white shark, rather to fear God is to be concerned that you’re out of sync with His modus operandi. It would be the same feeling we would have if we were suddenly thrust out onto the highways without knowing the rules of the road that need to be obeyed so that everyone can safely get to where they want to go.
To get where we want to go by using a car, we must hold ourselves accountable to the traffic laws. Why would we think it would be any different in our lives? If we want to get where we want to go in our lives, wouldn't it follow that we need to learn the rules of life so that we can live fulfilling and happy lives? If we want to live fulfilled and happy lives, we must hold ourselves accountable to God’s spiritual laws which He reveals to us through His sacred writings. If we don’t know and follow the rules that God has set down, how can we hope to gain His promised just rewards?
God is all loving and merciful. He knows what will give us satisfaction and the most fulfillment in our lives. He tells us to love one another as He has loved us. If you are not satisfied and don’t feel fulfilled in your life, take a good long soul-searching inventory of how you have lived your life up to this point and then study the Sacred Scripture of your belief system to see where you’re not following God’s rules. Change your "why" of thinking. As one of the slogans from The Twelve Steps spirituality program says, “the height of insanity is to keep doing the same thing over and over and expect different results." If you want to enter the kingdom of God, you must become again as a little child. In other words, trust in God and God's teachings: cease to do evil and learn to do good; love God with your heart, mind, and soul and your neighbor as yourself.
Blessings,
Rev. Bob
