Accountability

Our society was once based on the basic principle that everyone would take responsibility for themselves and the community in which they live. Today, however, we see everyone demanding their rights and ignoring their responsibilities. This is nothing new – it has its origins right back in Genesis 3 when Adam refused to take responsibility before God for eating the forbidden fruit, as did Eve who blamed the serpent. Throughout history the story is the same; mankind not facing the responsibility for their actions. It is in the human heart to make excuses or blame others. But this is not the gospel message. Jesus made Himself accountable to the Father and took responsibility for the sins of the entire world (1 John 2:2).

For most Christians, the thought of being accountable is associated with heavy shepherding, control and manipulation. However, the truth is that we were designed to be accountable, not with a negative notion but a positive one. It is good to be accountable. When Adam walked with God in the Garden of Eden, he was given authority and responsibility for the earth. God brought His handiwork for Adam to name (Gen 2:19-20). Adam became accountable to God for the earth. With the fall, Adam and Eve became fearful of God and hid from Him rather than being able to fellowship with Him. They experienced fear of punishment for their wrong doings and this led them to hide from responsibility and accountability.

As Christians, we should not hide from accountability but rather seek it out.

“Open rebuke is better than love carefully concealed. Faithful are the wounds of a friend.”

Proverbs 27:5-6 (NKJV).

A story I once heard shows the attitude of most Christians today:

Two friends were walking along a canal when they noticed that stones in a nearby bridge were falling from the underside. Every time a car went across it, another stone would fall until the entire bridge started to shake dangerously. Finally, a large lorry went over and the bridge broke completely in the middle. The two friends knew that if a car came around the bend and over the bridge, the driver would not know that the middle of the bridge was gone. One of the friends turned to the other and said, “We need to do something. What would be the Christian thing to do?”

His friend thought for a moment and replied, “Build a hospital!”

Although the response seems ridiculous, it is an accurate picture of how most of us think of accountability in our lives. We prefer to ignore problems and pretend that everything is alright rather than face issues and seek help. We try to fix what is broken instead of getting to the root of the problem before it breaks. It is only pride that stops us asking a friend for an opinion or for help!

Accountability requires relationship. You must give someone permission to speak into your life and equally you must earn the right before you bring correction to another person. Being accountable to someone does not negate your responsibility but instead helps guide you into making good and godly choices.

There are several scriptures which show the New Testament believers made themselves accountable to others:

Peter gave an account to the church and the other apostles (Acts 11:1-18); Barnabas was sent to Antioch (Acts 11:19-26); Apollos made himself accountable to Aquila and Priscilla, so he grew and was able to explain the way of God more accurately (Acts 18:24-26).

Primarily we are accountable to God:

            So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.                                Romans 14:12 (NKJV)

There are many scriptures which talk about being accountable to God:

And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.                                                                                                Hebrews 4:13 (NKJV)

So he called him and said to him, “what is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.”                                                                                         Luke 16:2 (NKJV)

The word “account” used in Romans 14:12 is the Greek word “logos”, which is to talk or communicate. The tense is future, active and indicative mood, which means the action can be repeated more than once. Hence, we make ourselves accountable to God by talking with Him. It is an ongoing fellowship with God that makes us accountable to Him.

Let us learn to take responsibility for our actions and accept accountability in our lives from God, from our leaders and from our friends!