Is It Possible to Be Too Cautious?

Do you think of yourself as being creative? Jesus’ thoughts on creativity and accountability are revealed in his Parable of the Talents. An employer entrusted $10,000 to an employee, $5,000 to another and $1,000 to someone else. The first two doubled their investments, but the third refused to trust his marketplace skills. He was promptly terminated.

The fired employee was accused of being too cautious, lazy, and wicked. Jesus’ parable defines accountability. What has been entrusted into your care intellectually, physically, and spiritually are gifts to be invested in God’s kingdom here on earth.

Creativity motivates you to seek the limits of your giftedness. God’s gift to each believer is faith and trust, which enable you to push out from what is known, to discover opportunities to serve Jesus Christ in new and exciting ways. 

So stay alert and be ready.

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Be careful, then, how your live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 

~Ephesians 5:15-16 New International Version 

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How Does Maturity Reflect Being Accountable?

What is the difference in acknowledging mistakes, taking corrective measures to avoid repeats, and masking failure with excuses? Making excuses is a way to sidestep embarrassment, and possible punishment, but more importantly, excuses deny accountability.

Failure to meet expectations begins very early in childhood, and how these failures are addressed depends on the age of the child. Consistent harsh punishment promotes excuse-making and blaming others. Lack of maturity is linked with failure to be accountable.

Jesus in Matthew 25 speaks to this issue. A businessman gave three associates responsibility for large sums of money. Two invested wisely and made a profit. The other hid the money but then made excuses for his failure to be accountable.

To strive for and practice maturity reinforces accountability. According to Romans 14:12, we will give an account of ourselves to God. Does that sound scary?         

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Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.

~Romans 14:13 New International Version

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