How accountability helps us to change and grow spiritually?

Greetings to you, dear readers, on this wonderful day! Every day God does all things new and His mercy is renewed for us every day!

Yesterday we started to discuss the issue of accountability. We established that accountability is an obligation of a person or an organization to give account to others of their actions and the things entrusted to them. A believer is responsible about the course of his life not just before God, but also before men.

How can accountability help me to change? How does accountability affect the process of spiritual growth? That is what we are going to talk about today.

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.

Accountability encourages us to be responsible before the others of our actions; these others usually mean our key relationships: a spouse, close relatives, friends, colleagues, supervisors, and pastors, the members of your church or home group.

A person who is not accountable to anybody is not willing for any other person to hold him responsible for either his actions or words. Such a person does not answer before anybody; he does what he wants and when he wants it.

Accountability is one of the instruments of change used through relationships. Before I was married I went where I wanted to go; I could visit anyone I wanted and stay there as long as I wanted; there was nobody to report to. I did not need to give account to anybody. When I received my salary, I could buy what I wanted and not discuss it with anybody. (Of course, I always am responsible before God for all of my actions and decisions, including the financial decisions.) But after I got married, everything changed. Now if I go somewhere and am delayed for some reason, I always call my wife and tell her where I am. My wife is entitled to know where I am and what I am doing. I cannot tell her that it is not her business. No, it is her business and she has a right to know everything about me. I am open to her and she is open to me about everything. We are accountable to one another of our actions, decisions and lifestyle. Do you understand what I am talking about?

We are responsible to one another and this accountability is our protection. Accountability protects us from problems and helps us to move forwards in this life avoiding different hindrances in our relationships.

God has created us to be accountable to one another:

 «…giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God» (Ephesians, 5:20-21)

God calls us to thank Him for everything. We walk before Him, love Him and live with Him. But He also tells us to submit to one another in the fear of God. Why? Because it is through accountability that God changes us.

There are many verses in the Bible that tell us about God calling us to be accountable and submissive to one another. Let’s look at some of them.

«Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you» (Hebrews, 13:17).

«Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king a supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good» (1 Peter, 2:13-14).

«Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied with fear» (1 Peter, 3: 1-2).

“Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for „God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble”(1 Peter, 5:5).

«Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God» (Colossians, 3:20-22).

«Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honour your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth. And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart» (Ephesians, 6: 1-6).

Find some time today to seriously consider these passages of Scripture and allow God to give you a revelation of the importance of accountability in the life of every person.

Till tomorrow!

I wish you abundant God’s blessings!

Pastor Rufus Ajiboye