The price and the conditions of accountability

Greetings to you, dear friends! Praise God for this wonderful day God has given us! Thank God for one more opportunity to be filled with His living Word!Yesterday we discussed how the principle of accountability worked in the life of Paul. We talked about the fact that there were people in Paul’s life he gave account of what he taught and how he ministered. Paul submitted to the spiritual authority, and that is why God was able to mightily move and work in his life.Even though the revelations Paul was sharing he received when in solitude with the Lord, he still went to Jerusalem to give account of them. We can read about it in the Book of Acts. 

«But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother» (Galatians, 1:15-19).

 Paul demonstrated the importance of accountability and showed that no spiritual achievements should cancel it. Paul gave account to the church of Antioch and the chief Apostles in Jerusalem.Do you want God to change you? If you do not submit to anybody and do not give account of your life, then you won’t see serious changes in our life. Besides, you rob yourself of the blessings God has prepared for you through accountability.Let’s talk about the price and the conditions of accountability. 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.

Being teachable is an absolute must for a person who wants to be accountable; it includes willingness to be convicted, corrected and instructed. The Bible says that we must be quick to listen and slow to speak: 

 «So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath» (James, 1:19).

 This principle is closely related to the system of accountability.Another important trait is readiness to acknowledge our wrongdoings and mistakes. We must learn to listen more and to speak and react less. An accountable person is willing to keep quiet if necessary.

• Accountability implies openness.

An accountable person must be accessible and open. It is not possible to be accountable and secluded at the same time. An accountable person is transparent like a piece of glass in his actions and words. Many people are afraid to open their hearts, because they fear others might reject or despise them as soon as they find out things about them. You can look mighty and powerful in the eyes of others and have major problems all at the same time. The truth is that sooner or later it will come out, – and it will become evident not just to some specific people, but to a large number of people. So it is better to have strong ties implying accountability and be open with some people in our lives, thus protecting ourselves from unexpected falls.I understand we cannot be open to everybody. There is a category of people that you cannot be open with. This problem unfortunately exists in churches. I do not want to dwell on it, but I will say: if you fear God, then you do not have a right to spread around the secrets that someone has told you without his consent. Breaking of confidentiality is one of the ways how devil strikes churches. That is why so many people close up and trust no-one. Let’s not allow this among us, because it is the way of the devil. Do not spread other people’s secrets and problems that were revealed to you, but bring them in prayer before God.If we will close our hearts to one another, then we won’t be able to help one another. Promise God to keep the secrets and problems of the others to yourself if you ever find out something about other people and to help them to the best of your ability. Where there is no fear, distrust and rejection, there is open hearts, mutual help and, ultimately, that is where God is!I wish you God’s abundant blessings!Pastor Rufus Ajiboye