Accountabiity

For the past several months we have heard a lot about accountability, or I should say, the lack of it. AIG, Fanny Mae and Freddie Mac, Madoff, Banks and the list goes on. Giant business dealings unchecked and unnoticed, that is until something catastrophic happens; then everyone demands to know “How did this happen?” Who’s Responsible? Of course everyone has their own idea of punishment for the offenders.

Interestingly, when I looked up the definition of accountability Wikipedia listed several different types and not one was individual. Those listed were Political, Administrative, Market, Constituency relations, etc. It’s as if someone else has to monitor others to make them responsible, consequently letting us off the hook for our own actions.

Who are you accountable to and are you only accountable if you get caught?

· Do you drive faster than the posted speed limit
· Skip Sunday worship to watch sports, hunt, fish, sleep late
· Call in sick when your not
· Cheat on you income tax
· Lie to your spouse/parents/children

The list is endless. Ultimately we have to be responsible for our own actions. I can do a lot of things under the guise of ‘no one is going to know’. But God always knows and I’m thankful he does. I try hard not to disappoint him. I know I do disappoint him often, yet if I hold myself accountable, according to his teachings, I will do it less and less. I pray my actions will never cause another to stumble, yet I also pray I will have the courage to teach accountability to others as well. Consider the following illustration from (from 1001 Quotes)...

Jawanza Kunjufu, in his book Restoring the Village, writes:

When I was a fourteen-year-old high school freshman, school was dismissed early for a teachers’ meeting. I conveniently neglected to tell my parents about the change and arranged to bring my girlfriend over to my house. We weren’t planning to study.

As we were going up the steps, my neighbor, Mrs. Nolan, poked her head out of a window and said, “You’re home awfully early, Jerome.”

“Yes, Ma’am,” I said, improvising a lame story about how we planned to review algebra problems.

“Does your mother know you’re home this early,” Mrs. Nolan persisted, “and do you want me to call her?”

I gave up. “No, Ma’am. I’ll go inside and call her while Kathy sits on the porch.”

Mrs. Nolan saved our careers that day. If Kathy had gotten pregnant, she might not have become the doctor she is today. And my father had warned me that if I made a baby, the mutual fund he set up for me to go to college or start a business would have gone to the child. I’m glad Mrs. Nolan was at her window, looking out for me.

So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way. Rom 14:12-14