Accountability : Pastor Rajiv's Daily Reflection

Romans 14:12

"So then each of us will give an account of himself to God".

In professional terms, Accountability eliminates the time and effort you spend on distracting activities and other unproductive behavior. When you make people accountable for their actions, you're effectively teaching them to value their work. When done right, accountability can increase your team members' skills and confidence. Accountability is extremely crucial for positive gain.

Similarly in Biblical terms accountability is equally and most important. It could mean life or death. Physically and spiritually. It is about the value we place on God's word and our purpose in life. 

Biblical accountability begins with taking responsibility for one’s own actions and making a conscious choice of allowing God and others to help in accomplishing what is right. Biblical accountability is three dimensional -

Accountability to God 

Making sure we walk the talk and take trouble to understand His purpose for us, through His wisdom. Making sure we use the Gifts He has given us, wisely and  for His glory, including His Holy spirit.

Accountability to self

We owe much to ourselves. We are not a mistake but part of  a plan of God. Our bodies are His temple and our world is His garden, which need to look after as well. His Holy Spirit resides in us, is with us. We need to make sure we maintain His temple in cleanliness. Make sure we maintain health. What we do here defines our life. It also defines our purpose. We need to listen to the Holy Spirit and not ignore it's presence in our lives.

Accountability to others.

As Gods people we have a responsibility, given to us by our Lord Jesus - to work towards the well being of our world as well as fellow men and women. In fact, it is a command, not an advice. 

John 15:12

“This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you"

So it becomes a triangle with God at the top, and us humans at the bottom and a horizontal accountability with each other.

Why should we take it seriously? The word account appears 68 times in the Bible. So it's not a mere occurrence or reference. It's a serious valuation of what we have done with the life and time God has given us.

"For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance, but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away".

That's how serious this matter is to God.

For reference read Matthew 25 verses 14-30.