Many in our day and time do not want to take responsibility for their actions. They want to blame others for various problems. They want to leave work that needs to be done for others to do. In contrast with this mentality, we see that the Bible teaches the importance of individual responsibility and personal accountability.
Paul told the brethren in Corinth, “Test yourselves” and “examine yourselves” (2 Corinthians 13:5). We will each stand before Christ in judgment as individuals (2 Corinthians 5:10). Each person’s fate will be determined “according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” On that day, we will not be able to slide into heaven based upon what others have done – whether they may be our family, our brethren, or anyone else.
Jesus taught the need to be careful how we judge (Matthew 7:1-5). He did not say that all judging is wrong. In another place, He said, “Judge with righteous judgment” (John 7:24). But He made the point that we should not be unfair in the judgments we make: “For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you” (Matthew 7:2).
The other point Jesus made in this passage that I want us to consider is that we are to look to ourselves first, then to others. He used the illustration of a “speck” in our brother’s eye, and a “log” in our own eye (Matthew 7:3). His point was that with the beam in our eye, we cannot “see clearly to take out the speck out of your brother’s eye” (Matthew 7:4-5). Should we be concerned with our brother? Of course, but the best way to help our brother is to remove what is hindering us so we can help him. We must look to ourselves first.
Consider the example of Peter. The Lord charged him to tend to His sheep (John 21:15-17), spoke of the type of death he would have to die for Him (John 21:19), and told him, “Follow Me” (John 21:19). Peter tried to shift the focus to John: “Lord, and what about this man?” (John 21:21). Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!” (John 21:22). In essence, Jesus told Peter, “Don’t worry about John, you do what I’ve called you to do.”
Today, some within church say that “we” are not doing enough to convert the lost. They say that more should be done. That may be true. We could always say there is more that could be done to reach the lost. But if we learn anything from Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 7 and Peter’s example in John 21, it is that instead of saying, “We should do more,” we should first say, “I should do more.”
The work of personal evangelism (and evangelism in general for that matter) is one in which we may not see any visible results, even when much work is being done. Paul said that it is not our responsibility to produce results, but simply to teach (1 Corinthians 3:6). We may not see any positive results in the work of personal evangelism and think that our brethren are not doing anything. (Could they say the same of us?) However, we do not know the work others are doing. They could be hard at work trying to reach the lost, but not having any positive responses. They are still fulfilling their responsibility to spread the gospel.
As with all responsibilities Christians have, we need to be reminded of the need to spread the gospel. There is nothing wrong with teaching and exhorting brethren to be busy in the work of personal evangelism. But we should not accuse brethren of not doing enough or not having enough love for the souls of those who are lost when we do not see visible results (conversions, visitors to the assembly, etc.). Instead we should look to ourselves and ask, “Is there more that I can be doing?” Then, not only might we find ways in which we can improve our service to God in this area, but we can also be a positive example on our brethren, motivating them to do more as well.
