Accountability for consequences based on personal choice seems like a different language. Why does this even matter? What does this mean? How can this help us?
Why does personal choice and accountability matter? This post is tagged under Natural Law because that’s what it is. There are many things promoted in the media, movies and in our government that go a long way to wipe away this key portion of Natural Law.
For instance, the writer of the movie or TV script can create whatever outcome is desired regardless of the nature the of behavior portrayed. Immoral behavior is illuminated and promoted without showing the natural guilt associated with it. Disrespect to parents and leaders is commonplace without showing the sorrow and discord caused. Finally, the successful in business, athletics and politics is shown to be successful based on their own capabilities without ever giving credit to the source of their talents, the Creator. These portrayals are all distortions of personal choice and accountability.
A glaring example in government is the entitlement system of Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, Pensions and lifetime payments to politicians. These systems are built on a sandy foundation of borrowings that are not true. Not true because they are violating the original contract on which they were created.
What does this mean? When we act wisely, we naturally reap the rewards of wise behavior. When we act the fool, we receive the wages of a fool. The idea in this life is to learn to be wise and not foolish. This means we naturally follow the laws established that govern human behavior.
Where can we find the basis of this law? Two places ring loudly, one is in the Holy Bible and the other is directly from the Creator through the medium of personal prayer. We can even find many fountains of wisdom in the secular world with the abundance of self-help and human relations materials now available. Most of this “secular” material is some derivation of the truths contained in the Bible. Do the work and trace the philosophy and you’ll find it’s beginnings in Holy Scripture.
This also means there is no way to escape the consequences of our actions. If we eat bacon all day our health will fail and we suffer. Why should another pay for those choices?
If we save money over time and invest wisely, we generate wealth. There is no way to escape this result either if the principles of building wealth are followed. Why should the wisdom of the wealth builder pay for the foolishness of the bacon eater? Naturally, the wisdom shouldn’t pay for the foolishness unless the wealth builder chooses to be merciful and sets terms for the foolish to change their behavior. There must be accountability attached to the help, otherwise the foolish will never make the change.
How can this help us? A system based on anything other than Natural Law, personal choice and accountability is destined to fail. A bit of irony really, these prop-up systems were developed to avoid failure and they are the very seeds of failure, the vehicle of failure and the failure enabler. Fear of failure can destroy entire societies as we are seeing right before our eyes.
Accountability for personal choice builds people up. Even failure can build up character. I recently saw a poster while going through school orientation that said, “Success is getting up one more time than you fall.” I like this. I would also say that, “Success is choosing wisely so you stay up and don’t fall.” First step is getting up and realizing the falling part stinks.
So, Stand Up! Take responsibility for actions and seek wisdom to make wise choices.
I am very grateful for your reading and for this empowering aspect of Natural Law, personal choice and accountability.
God Bless You and God Bless America!
