"The Buck Stops Here"
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With football seasons upon us, maybe it's helpful to remember the sage words of Harry Truman, who said, "It's easy enough for a Monday morning quarterback to say what the coach should have done after the game's over. But when the decision is up before you — and on my desk I have a motto which says 'The Buck Stops Here!' — the decision has to be made." Though you can't control anyone else — a coach, a politician, a spouse, or even your children — you're always accountable for your decisions in life.
We're Cross Training to develop our fruitfulness, one of twelve marks of the Master we're working on this year. Fruitfulness comes when we're accountable, full of zeal, diligent workers, and good stewards of our blessings. So how do we take responsibility, owning the daily decisions we make?
What You Need to Know
Remember when Jesus went to a fig tree and cursed it after seeing it had no fruit (Mark 11:12-14)? What was that all about? The prophets often compared Israel to fig trees (Jer. 8:13; Mic. 7:1) or vineyards, which God expected to bear fruit (Isa. 5:1-7; 27:2-5). And here, in between the triumphal entry and the cleansing of the temple, Jesus makes a prophetic declaration against Israel. So what does that have to do with us? Well, we are now his field (1 Cor. 3:7-9), saved to bear fruit to God (Rom. 7:4).
In Luke, Jesus tells a story about a tree that won't bear fruit (Luke 13:6-9). Finally, after three years of waiting, the vineyard owner is ready to cut it down, though his patient vinedresser wants to give it one more year. The parable shows how the Lord offers second chances — praise God! — but there's also a final chance when the consequences for not bearing fruit will come to bear in judgment.
And when the Master returns in judgment, we won't be able to blame anyone else for our unfruitfulness. "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil" (2 Cor. 5:10). As stewards of the Lord's blessings, someday we'll answer for how productive we've been — no excuses and no deflection (Matt. 25:14-30). Will we hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant" or, "You wicked and slothful servant!" (Matt. 25:23, 26)?
What You Need to Do
Sound a mental alarm when you begin to play the blame game. Maybe "passing the buck" sounds like, "But he said ...," or, "Everyone else was doing it," or even, "She started it!". While it's easy to absolve ourselves of wrongdoing by spinning a spectacular tale, God always knows better (1 Sam. 15:10-16). So catch your mistakes early by listening carefully before you start believing the stories you tell yourself.
Be good to everyone you meet (Gal. 6:9-10), treating each interaction as though you're planting a seed in the ground. As Paul said, "... whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life" (Gal. 6:7-8). So what kind of plant will your good deeds grow into?
Consider installing a "mouthguard" (Prov. 13:3) to protect against thoughtless words (James 3:5). As Jesus warns, "I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned" (Matt. 12:36-37).
Through the Week
- Read (Mon) — Matt. 12:33-37; John 15:1-8; 2 Cor. 5:6-10; Gal. 6:1-5; Ezek. 18:1-20
- Reflect (Tue) — Have I buried my "talent" in the ground?
- Request (Wed) — "O LORD, be gracious to me and heal me as I acknowledge my sins against you!" (cf. Ps. 41:4).
- Respond (Thu) — Do a "secret" good work no one will know about but the Lord.
- Reach Out (Fri) — How has taking ownership for your decisions changed how you relate to other people?
