It’s that time of year when most churches have their annual meeting. This meeting is usually accompanied by an annual report. It recounts the financial status for the past year along with other statistics, reflections, and summaries of things that have happened in the church over the previous year. It takes time to compile this information (I should know as I just spent much of my last week working on one). Yet it is worth the effort to compile this information as a way for us to stop and consider both the challenges of life and the blessings of God in our lives. Perhaps it would be helpful to compile an annual report on your own life to get an assessment and picture of where you are in your walk with the Lord. Consider the following reports that you might want to include:

Financial Report – Matthew 6:19-20 tells us to follow the money! This report outlines what money came in over the year and how it was spent. Have you ever taken the time to assess your own finances this way? Have you ever looked back over your bank statement and noted God’s provision for your needs? Maybe it was just that you had a steady job and paycheck all year. Maybe it is that He provided a special gift from someone just when you needed it the most. How about your expenses? Look back through your credit card statements and see where your money went. How was your giving to the Lord last year? How does your church giving compare to your spending on amusement and entertainment? How we spend our money reveals a lot about the priority we have given to the Lord’s work.

Attendance Report – Not that numbers are everything, but nearly every church has someone who counts attendance each week. Yes, there are times that people are sick or need to be away for things, but attendance is a good general indicator of the trends that are happening in church. How has your church attendance been? Can you think of times when you chose to stay home on the couch and have “virtual church” when you could have been there in person? Do you come out on Sunday nights and Wednesday nights as well as Sunday mornings? What about Sunday School? While there is nothing “holy” about have perfect attendance, your attendance (and attention) will be directly tied to your spiritual growth (Hebrews 10:24-25).

Administration Report – Sometimes this is labeled the “Deacon’s Report” or “Trustee’s Report”. It outlines the major decisions that were made regarding he administration of the church’s affairs. When you look back on your year, what major decisions have you made? Take time to outline each one and assess it. Did the outcome honor the Lord? Did you seek the Lord’s direction in it through prayer? Did you get counsel from your Pastor or other mature Christians in the matter? What gets many Christians off track in their spiritual walk is a neglect in how they administer the small and large decisions of life. We must constantly choose to be a Proverbs 3:6 Christian.

Pastor’s Report – The Pastor’s report usually tries to give some insight into the spiritual life, maturity, and growth in the church. Many times this is hard to quantify, but it is vitally important. There are indicators of our spiritual maturity in each of the reports above, but this report is about getting an honest assessment of your own heart. Do you truly love God’s Word, his people, coming to Him in prayer, and living for Him? Is your Christianity just a costume you wear on the outside or is there a true, heartfelt, genuineness in your faith? These are the questions that only you (through the insight of the Holy Spirit) can answer for yourself. You may have everyone around you convinced that you love the Lord- but take time to answer the question from the perspective of the God who knows your innermost being. Would God say that you truly love Him, live for Him, and serve Him will all your heart? (Joshua 22:5)

Now I’m not suggesting that you physically produce a copy of your personal annual report. There would probably be a lot of information that you would never want published. The report shouldn’t just be used to beat yourself up either. Use it as an opportunity to reflect on the greatness of God, His goodness to you, and the blessings that He has given you in life. However, just like the church, it might be helpful to stop and take time to assess your life in the areas where improvements could me made. If you truly want to serve God “in truth with all your heart”, it is going to require you to consider yourself, assess your ways, and then make the changes needed to truly honor Him.