In order to be an accountable person you must pay a price. An effective system of accountability involves particular requirement. If you really want to be accountable, you have to consider the following requirements:
Accountability implies being teachable.
Leaving for his mission Paul didn´t make himself unaccountable just because he had already been anointed and free. At that moment Paul had become a mature minister established many churches. Nevertheless, he was still an accountable person. He returned to the church at Antioch, to the place he had been sent from, to meet those whom God had been made an authority over Paul. Moreover, Paul also held an account before the apostles in Jerusalem regarding the way his ministry was going.
«Then after a period of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus also with me. I went up by revelation, and I laid before them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately before those who were respected, for fear that I might be running, or had run, in vain». (Galatians 2:1-2).
Who was Paul? He is the greatest apostle ever, one who wrote 2/3 of the New Testament. He had access to the revelations like nobody else. He got to know God more than any other apostles.
«Regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote to you». (2nd Peter 3:15).
When we look at the life of Jesus Christ we see that He did not live an independent life. Jesus was accountable to His Father in everything – in words and deeds: «Then Jesus said to them, „When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things» (John, 8:28).
1. Fear of rejection. Many people are afraid of others rejecting or despising them when they find out all the truth. Biblical accountability is fulfilment of the law of Christ which tells us to express our care for the others in the spirit of humility: «Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ» (Galatians, 6:1-2).
«I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me» (Philippians, 4:13).
It means that I must completely rely on Christ and His Word and draw spiritual strength through personal fellowship with Him. Besides, it means that I receive God’s power and support through other members of the Body of Christ. I am united with Christ directly and also through my relationships with other members of His Body.
I must note that ‘accountability group’ (small group, home group) is not the place where you only share your problems or weaknesses. Of course, accountability implies all of it. But if we only do that, then there is no time for instruction or feed-back, and then this group can turn into a place of gossip and slandering.
Accountability group or Christian fellowship is the place of learning where we all strive to be more like Jesus. We do it through questions and answers, Bible study, prayer; we listen to each other and support each other.
Accountability is a sincere confession or opening of one’s secrets of his Christian walk to the others in the atmosphere of mutual trust. We are ready to give account of what we do with our lives, what we understand or do not understand, in what areas are weak or in need of assistance. When we are accountable we are willing to admit whether we are growing or not. We are able to give account of what we are learning in order to receive support, encouragement or correction.
Remember, what is the first sign of a change man? It is the changed attitude towards other people. Joseph’s attitude towards his brothers tells us that he had been changed. Imagine that these were the people that sold him into slavery and caused him to go through pain, misery, losses, trials and serious problems. And now brothers came to Joseph for help and he helped – freely and with no desire to pay back for all the pain. He was able to do it because he was changed and freed from unforgiveness, bitterness and resentment.
Our relationships with God are expressed through love, joy and peace.
Our relationships with others are expressed through longsuffering, kindness and goodness.
Our relationships with self are expressed through faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
