Accountability

There are many sports out there in the world today and each one of them is slightly different from the next. They cover different time periods (i.e. innings, quarters) and they all have a different set of rules. Some rules are basic and some are more complex. The game of golf has a certain rule like this. Not many people know that golf is actually the only game where you can call a penalty on yourself. In golf, if a players causes his ball to move after it has come to stop, even by accident, it is a one stroke penalty. This means that even if no one saw it but you then technically, by the rules of the game, you are suppose to call a one stroke penalty on yourself. You have to hold yourself accountable for your own actions. If you read the scripture you can see how this lesson plays into our Christian lives. Too many people in the world today are always looking for someone else to blame. No one wants to own up to his/her own mistakes. This is no way to go about living your life. You can blame as many people as you want here on this earth, but on that day of judgement you and only you will be answering for all of your sins. Matthew 12:36 says, "But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgement." Also we read in Romans 14:12, "So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God." We will be held accountable for our sins on that day of judgement so why don't we hold ourselves accountable now. We must recognize our sins and confess them to God so that He can forgive us for them(1 John 1:9; Mark 2:10). However God cannot forgive us of ours sins if we don't repent for them. Don't put your sins on others. God knows who is at fault. Numbers 32:23 "But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the Lord: and be sure your sin will find you out." Be accountable for your own actions. Be honest enough to call that penalty on yourself and then go to God for forgiveness. He is always watching and always waiting for his children to come home.

-Ben Stevenson