Accountability
From the Pastor’s heart
Heb_4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
As I have travelled around the world and ministered, I have come across many Christians who believe they can do what they want and get away with it. As I listen to the tales of woe that many people share with me on these journeys that I take, I realise, that they have in some way walked away from accountability before God. They have wittingly or unwittingly self imposed wildernesses in their lives which they often time blame on others or circumstances in life. Too often they blame God and the devil for what they do themselves which results in their troubles never being resolved. I am not a supporter of the devil but I am convinced that he does not need to attack us as often to get us to put ourselves in danger because we do it ourselves. Very often we are our own worst enemies. On the good side of accountability, we come to realise that there are rewards associated with faithfulness that we show toward the entrusted blessings and power of God which He has given us to be fruitful and multiply with.
Accountability has several connotations to it. It is determining of whether a person deserves a reward for their actions and thoughts or whether they deserve reprimand and punishment. Accountability also covers several spheres of relationship. All hierarchical (vertical) relationships hold a level of accountability and carry with them rewards and consequences. On a horizontal level, accountability for our actions between ourselves and upholding the law of the land is required on a daily basis and even on a moment by moment basis. The law of land requires accountability otherwise there is punishment.
On a hierarchical level, accountability can be quite severe in it’s outworking and because of that the rewards and consequences too can be extreme. On a TV reality show Bosses go into their own workplaces disguised to see how employees work and often find two categories of people. Those that they wish to reward because they are accountable in their job and those that they end up sacking because they are unfaithful in the responsibility and trust given to them. Likewise, in the parable of the talents, Jesus gives us insight into how things are in a spiritual sense with the failure to please our Lord with what He has given us and our gifts and talents. One can argue about the nature of Jesus and say He is a lovey dovey kind of God and will not harm us or put us in jeopardy over our failure to walk righteously with Him. In the parable the ones who profited the Master’s money were handsomely rewarded. The one who failed his Master, was severely punished. It is not Jesus we have to worry about but the Father God who holds us all accountable, even His Son Jesus. Jesus took that accountability for our sins upon Himself and even now continues to intercede on our behalf exuding (oozing) grace all the time but there will come a day of judgement that we all must face. That judgement will be an accountability for our time and actions on this earth or a judgement of sin which ends up in everlasting hell for those who are not saved.
There are more parables in the Bible that speak of this particular kind of judgement and reward for accountability. There is one where the unjust steward is called to accountability and loses his position. There is one parable about the one who does not forgive his friend’s debts though he himself was forgiven debts and as a result ends up in prison. Then, there is the rich man who lived a lavish life while the beggar at his door starved. The rich man went to hell and the beggar went to heaven. Some have failed to understand that accountability is a big thing with God. He holds us responsible for our actions, speech, thoughts, all that we have been given by way of money, family, children, friends and even jobs. Accountability stretches to every imaginable area of our lives. Too often people believe that when they own something or something is theirs either given or worked for that they can do what they like. As a result, people have misused others by making them slaves instead of workers, treating friends and family with disdain and abusing them or taking advantage of them, others have destroyed their pets, and church members have been unaccountable in Church for their actions and speech. Others have gone against the government taking the law into their own hands. The list is endless. Everything we say and do is held in accountability by God and nobody is treated differently.
Mat_12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
When we are accountable with God for both our natural and spiritual lives, we find great peace resting in our souls and minds. A man who has nothing to hide from God will allow Him to search their hearts to see if there is any wicked way in it. They will not be afraid about their actions or speech through the day and will sleep well at night. Often time, I have found that conviction is like a thorn in the side. You know where the pain comes from but cannot find the spot to pull out the thorn that has gone in. Once we deal with the issue at hand and become accountable for opening that door to allow the thorn to come in, we no longer look for that spot to pull out the thorn because it has been pulled out by our positive action. Till we do what has to be done, conviction remains. We try to bury it, hide it or feed it with all manners of other things but it never goes away. Many have lived long and miserable lives because of it.
I have often heard of people waking up one day in their old age and going to all who had offended them or whom they had offended and settling the matter before dying not long after. It is like a wake up call at the last moment of their lives. Those who have fulfilled their accountability on earth will go to their death in peace. Others will live miserably all their lives and then die miserably. The thief on the cross made his peace with God on the cross and went to be with Jesus in Paradise but the other arrogant thief did not and went to hell.
In the area of money, accountability is greater than one can imagine. That is why we have Accountants, Auditors and the Tax Office. They hold everyone accountable for their money. God too holds us accountable for money. Luk_16:11If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? Luk_16:13No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. When Annanais & Saphira made a mistake about what they had committed to God and then failed in their giving, they died. Today, many Christians are suffering financially because they are not accountable to God for their money. Many teach that money is something that an individual has control over and not God. They fight God on many counts only to their own detriment. God gives us riches and teaches us to make wealth but holds us accountable for how we spend our money. When the poor and the orphans are starving and go without, we are held accountable because we do not give. Find a way to bless them and you will see that the windows of heaven will open up and bless you. Honesty is accountability. I am often reminded about a story of an honest man who in the days of horse and cart had come to town to buy his groceries. The town being a good 3 day journey away would mean he would have to be sure of what he wanted as the trip was made infrequently. One time, when he was two days away on his return from making his purchases, he found that he had more money than he should because the store clerk had made a mistake and had handed him more money than he was due. This man went back to return the money even though he was two days away.
This kind of diligence is not often seen and some would even consider it extreme honesty. However, honesty is accountability and timely honesty is better accountability. There is great reward when we are on time because we do not know when the Master will return. One should not have any debts owing in any area of their lives where they are accountable. That is why the communion table is a place of great restoration. The altar is also a great place of restoration. Mat_5:23Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Mat_5:24Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
Our hearts are glad and we raise our voices to God and speak of good things because we know that God has given us of His Holy Spirit to lead us into all liberty and peace. May the God of Jeshurun (upright/uprightness) who flies in the sky be the God of your lives taking you to heights you have never been before on His eagles wings.
Deu 33:26 There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun , who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the sky. Deu 33:27The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them. Deu 33:28Israel then shall dwell in safety alone: the fountain of Jacob shall be upon a land of corn and wine; also his heavens shall drop down dew. Deu 33:29Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.
Lots of love
Pastor Noble