Choose An Accountable Life

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money” (Luke 16:13, NIV).

Thirty years ago Jim Bakker built a ministry. He thought he built it for God, but he really built his own empire. Bakker started the PTL ministry because of a desire to serve the Lord, but as the ministry grew, love of earthly possessions and lust for power waged war. Jim Bakker took his eyes off God too many times, and his empire fell. Years following the building of the temple in Jerusalem, King Solomon found himself falling from God's grace. He allowed his pagan wives to pull him away from his first love. He still offered sacrifices in the temple, but worship had become only a formality. His heart was not fully God's, and his soul suffered from his desire to create happiness for the thousand of women in his life.  In the garden of Eden Eve's desire for what she did not possess–her insatiable hunger for that which was forbidden-her longing to know what was more than her capability to handle, finally brought about the fall of mankind from God's perfect grace.

Adam tried to please Eve by doing what she asked. It also might have been Tammy Fay's hunger for more possessions that spurred on Jim Bakker’s fall. King Solomon’s desire to please the many women in his life truly began his descent into a meaningless existence. However, in the last analysis Solomon did not fall from God’s grace just because of heathen wives. Jim Bakker also did not tumble into sin just because of Tammy Fay, and Adam could have said no. Each man was ultimately responsible for his own decisions and actions. Each chose sinful compromise.

What about me? I am responsible for my actions and my decisions. I am accountable. No one else leads me astray. Certainly others will offer temptation, but it is my choice whether I follow Christ or not. It is impossible to serve two masters. I will love one and grow to hate the other. I must always choose between spiritual pursuit and worldly values. Earthly treasures will not only destroy me, but they are like sand that slips through my fingers. I can't hold on to them. If I allow worldly desires to claim my heart then I void my witness, and lose any credential I have to share the love of Christ. If I don't live what I believe I will lose what I have been so freely given.

I never wish to forfeit God’s blessings! I will keep my life focused on His sacrificial love which changes my selfish heart. I will not allow earthly influences to pull me off course. I shall seek God's kingdom first, and allow His treasures to become the love of my life.  Daily I will seek the Lord’s counsel through prayer, and study of His Word. Daily I will choose to stay accountable. “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve...but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15, NIV).

If I allow the world to become more important that my God, then I will lose what Solomon lost–my first love. It is my responsibility to keep my heart and my purpose focused only on Him. He began this work of faith in me, and He will finish it–if I will allow it.