Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12 ESV

Now that the fanfare of the recent Super Bowl has settled a bit, I’d like to share a critical aspect that may have gone unnoticed. The play the Seattle Seahawks called against the New England Patriots at the end of the game turned out to be more than a questionable choice. The dramatic end zone interception by the Patriot defender literally snatched a great victory from the jaws of defeat. In many minds, the chosen play ranks as one of the worst decisions in Super Bowl history.

After the game the Seahawks quarterback, Russell Wilson, was interviewed. In humility and most refreshingly, this young man accepted blame and liability for the game’s outcome. There were no excuses, blaming of others, finger pointing or dodging his direct role in their defeat.

Accepting or rejecting responsibility and accountability are the vital choices we can trace way back to the scene in the Garden of Eden. Remember good ol’ Adam? After Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate of the forbidden fruit, God confronted Adam. What was his response? He told God, “It was because of the woman You gave me!” Eve went on to blame the serpent, the spiritual character with “no legs to stand on.”

You have liberty to believe the Biblical story or not. What you may find hard to do is replace it with your own story and explanation as to where our inherent nature of blaming others and finger-pointing truly originates. Just think if Adam and Eve would have been responsible and accountable and honestly said, “Yup, God we did it, please forgive us, and we won’t do it again.” A second chance to run a better play would not only have influenced the Seahawks outcome, it would have dramatically affected team mankind too.

A major aspect of the behavioral lesson provided by losing quarterback, Russell Wilson is this: Stepping up, standing up, and speaking up in responsibility and accountability are treasures more lasting and valuable than mere titles, trophies, or championship rings. The character attributes of this young man are real, but need to go beyond our recognition and appreciation. They need to be received and incorporated as a lifestyle example in all of us.

So family and friends, let’s open up and catch the truth of being more responsible and accountable, no matter what! If and when we execute our life plays in that resolve, interceptions will be out and touchdowns of personal victory will prevail!

Gen 2 & 3; John 3:16