Accountability is the Kingdom way of life.
When I’m at the bottom looking up, the main question may not be ‘how do I get out of this hole?’ In reality, the main question might be ‘how do I get rid of the shovel that I used to dig it?” ― Craig Lounsbrough
By Werner van Rensburg
We all have difficulties and challenges. We create most of our problems by making bad choices. The holes that we find ourselves in are mostly the holes we ourselves dug with bad choices. I want to trade my shovel for a ladder. It is about being accountable and handing the shovel to God and let God give you a ladder long enough to climb out of any hole.
(Romans 14:12 (NIV) – So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God).
The main difference between responsibility and accountability
Responsibility can be shared while accountability cannot.
Being accountable not only means being responsible for something but also ultimately being answerable (you have to explain your actions to someone because they have the main control) and liable (having (legal) responsibility for something or someone).
Everyone is called to be accountable in some way.
Although saved, we remain imperfect people who continue to be tempted by our sinful nature.
Do not take salvation for granted and act as though you are unchanged
Train yourself to be godly and rise above your nature demonstrating your renewal so that others may wish to follow your example
You May be the only Bible some people read…
You may be the only Jesus some people see… People look for an example not advice
You are going to be liable and answerable for being the only Bible or only example of Jesus.
What does the Word say about how will I be able to stay liable and answerable?
Matthew 26:41(AMP): Keep actively watching and praying) that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the [r]body is weak. This is actively watching and praying
1 Timothy 4:7(LB): Don’t waste time arguing over foolish ideas and silly myths and legends Spend your time and energy in the exercise of keeping spiritually fit
2 Timothy 2:3-5(LB): 3 Take your share of suffering as a good of Jesus Christ, just as I do; 4 and as Christ’s soldier, do not let yourself become tied up in worldly affairs, for then you cannot satisfy the one who has enlisted you in his army 5 Follow the Lord’s rules for doing his work, just as an athlete either follows the rules or is disqualified and wins no prize.
Summary of how will I then stay liable and answerable?
By actively watching and praying
Don’t waste time
Spend your time and energy in the exercise of keeping spiritually fit
Do not let yourself become tied up in worldly affairs
Follow the Lord’s rules
What are we accountable for?
1. We are accountable to warn unbelievers
Ezekiel 33:8 (NIV) “When I say to the wicked, ‘You wicked person, you will surely die,’ and you do not speak out to dissuade them from their ways, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood”
Masses of people never hear the gospel because we are afraid to share it with them. By doing so, we contribute to their fate of eternal death because we withheld the truth from them.
We are accountable for every word we speak
Matthew 12:36-37(ERV) 36I tell you that everyone will have to answer for all the careless things they have said. This will happen on the Day of Judgment. 37Your words will be used to judge you. What you have said will show whether you are right or whether you are guilty.”
There are so many words spoken in a day that we hardly think about what we say.. We know that we are to be “slow to speak”
James 1:19 – My dear brothers and sisters, always be more willing to listen than to speak. Keep control of your anger
James helps us carefully consider what and how we speak to those around us.
3.We are accountable for how we live our lives
Romans 14:12 (NIV) – So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.
Our everyday decisions matter to God and to those we live with at home, school, or work. We set the example of how believers reflect Jesus in good and bad times
Our attitudes and actions speak much louder than our words
4. Unbelievers are accountable for rejecting truth
1 Peter 4:5 (AMP)“But they will have to give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead”.(geen plek vir wegkruip nie, turn or burn)
People only have to look at the sky, trees, or rivers and they will know that God exists. However because of the hardness of their hearts, many will reject God and instead choose to live by their own rules.
Ok lets summarise for what we are accountable for:
to warn unbelievers
for every word we speak
for how we live our lives
Unbelievers for rejecting truth
Accountability is Necessary…
Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things.”
And it is extremely sick; Who can understand it fully and know its secret motives?
Because of our ability to deceive ourselves into believing lies—we must remain accountable not only to God, but to others in the body of Christ..
Accountability is a gift from God to help us stay on the right path and live spiritually successful lives.
Two men were fishing in a stream when they noticed that a nearby bridge was falling apart. Every time a vehicle would drive across it, another piece would fall and the entire bridge would shake dangerously. Finally, after a large truck passed over, the bridge completely fell apart in the middle. The two fishermen knew that if a car came around the bend, the driver would never know that the middle of the bridge was gone; the whole thing could come crashing down, damaging the vehicle and injuring the driver.
One of the men looked at his friend and said, “We’ve got to do something. What would be the ‘Christian’ thing to do?”
His friend thought for a moment and replied, “Build a hospital?”
It does seem that many Christens would rather build a hospital than put up a warning sign. We tend to deal with things after the fact instead of taking preventive action. We often allow a person to come to a very bad state before we get involved.
Every Christian man/or woman needs a wingman or woman to hold him or her accountable. The word wingman is a term that refers to the pattern in which fighter jets fly. There is the lead pilot and aircraft and another that flies off the right wing behind the lead. The second pilot is called the “wingman” because he primarily protects the lead by watching his back.
The spiritual analogy is powerful. The enemy has his target on Christians. That’s why Christians need other Christians in their lives who will hold them accountable, encourage them, and watch out for the enemy’s attack.
Knowing that the Christian life is a battleground, not a playground, every man or woman needs to put on the spiritual armour and help other brothers and sisters.
When I have to look my wingman in the eye and tell him that I did not read my Bible or pray like I said I would, it helps motivate me to not want to disappoint him in the future. Of course we are accountable to someone far more important than a trusted friend. God already knows everything we do. We should be motivated by God.
Are you willing to get a wingman to hold you accountable?
Here are ten questions to use with your Christian wingman.
Have you been reading your Bible and praying daily?
What did God teach you through His Word this last week?
Have you been pure in your thought life?
What sin did you battle with this week?
Did God give you victory in an unexpected way?
What do you anticipate will be a battle in the coming week?
Did you share your faith with someone?
Are you being honest with others?
How have you matured spiritually?
How is your family life?
You need men and women who will encourage you, warn you, and point out blind spots, listen to you and love you enough to tell you the truth even if it means risking that friendship
And if you are the wingman?
You as the wingman strive to become a better husband. When a man’s relationship with God is right, his relationship with his wife has the opportunity to be all God intends
A wingman strives to be a better dad, leading his son and daughter by example
Becoming a godly man isn’t just going to happen, you take the initiative daily.
I challenge you today to become a wingman and get a wingman. Live the life and be there for another brother or sister.
