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TWELVE QUESTIONS TO KEEP YOUR PERSONAL ACCOUNTS IN ORDER
Based on an article by Fred Smith in Leadership Magazine, Winter 1998. The concept found in this article has been adapted and expanded for use in the Couples In Christ class at Sunrise Community Church in Fair Oaks, CA by Dan and Trisha Kinnoin.
Introduction When I read this article in March of 1998 I immediately identified with the author's desire to establish a practical list of questions structured to check up on his spiritual health. As his CEO friend said, "I have a CPA to keep me liquid, a lawyer to keep me legal, and a doctor to keep me healthy. But I have no one to help assess my spiritual condition. Can you give me a "spiritual audit?" Trisha and I have endeavored to tailor the audit that Fred Smith developed to fit our lives, and would like to share these somewhat modified guidelines with you.
WARM-UP Exercise I recently had my accountant prepare a Balance Sheet for my company. This financial statement has essentially two components: Assets and Liabilities. Just for fun, let's see what it would look like if we changed the entries. Fill in the "Spiritual Balance Sheet" on the following page to reflect what you consider to be a healthy spiritual condition for your life. This should reflect a report that you think God (your CEO) would be pleased to receive. As you begin this exercise, see 1 Cor. 2:11-16 for the qualities of a "spiritual man". He is one who is: L and T by the Spirit; and can S , S , and U all things. Unbelievers and worldly-minded Christians cannot understand him. SPIRITUAL BALANCE SHEET Different for each person ASSETS Invest in Eternal Things
Cash (things you possess that are valuable to God)
Contract Receivable (anticipated return on my investment in eternal things)
Property and Equipment (things that I manage for the Lord)
Other Assets (special opportunities that God has given me; ways that He has equipped me)
LIABILITIES Prov. 3:27, "Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it." Current Liabilities (things that I owe and should pay NOW, because of what I have received)
Long-term Liabilities (things that I could never give enough of)
Owner's Equity (things I choose to give to God, as my special offering to Him) Do your Assets equal your Liabilities? If not, you should re-balance your life! "And from everyone who has been given much shall much be required...." (Luke 12:48)
1. Am I content with whom I am becoming? "Every day I get one day closer to who I will ultimately be. Am I satisfied with who this will be?" - Fred Smith Trisha and I have arrived at an interesting, introspective point in our journey as parents. Eric is gone - graduated, employed, and moved into his own abode; he will be married in July, and will likely have his own children one day. Cami will soon depart for the summer, followed by life in the dorms as a college student in Southern California. As parents, we look back and say, "Where did the time go? How did we do? Do we get any more chances?" As a husband I'm now looking back over 27 years of marriage. I have some regrets, and I have many satisfied memories. And yet I ask myself, "Why didn't you take more time away from less important things and spend it with Trisha?" As a businessman I'm completing my 21st year "on my own". My company will accept as many hours of my time as I am willing to spend. I have regrets of spending too many hours there. As a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ I can look back over 35 years of following Him. I want to ask Him, "How am I doing, Lord?", and hope that He will say, "Well done, good and faithful servant". Here are some ways that I can evaluate who I am becoming:
How are these people doing relative to walking closely with the Lord? As someone has asked, "Did they finish strong?"
"It's important that we be more than we do or have." - Fred Smith
"As we grow older, we must move from power to wisdom. Those who try to hold power too long are resented. Even parents who try to hold power over their children lose the love of their children. However, when we are able to give up power at the right time and become a wisdom figure, then we are useful, honored, and kept in the mainstream." "Am I moving from power and becoming a person of wisdom?" Dan Kinnoin has had tendency to take on more control, not less. Giving up power and attaining wisdom is an important lesson for me. How about you?
2. Am I becoming less religious and more spiritual? 3. Does my family recognize the authenticity of my spirituality? 4. Do I have a flow-through philosophy? 5. Do I have a quiet center to my life? 6. Hive I defined my unique ministry? 7. Is my prayer life improving? 8. Have I maintained a genuine awe of God? 9. Is my humility genuine? 10. Is my "spiritual feeding" the right diet for me? 11. Is obedience to small matters built into my reflexes? 12. Do I have joy? My Motive?
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