Accountability: Part IV

Accountability is not about having a "big-brother" to watch over you, or check-in with. It is more about have a sounding board. Someone other than yourself in this world to confide in. It will help to keep you on a straight and narrow road, away from trouble, away from strife and live a life that is better than just the inside-of-your-own-head.

Think of it as building a team. There may be only one advisor, or many; but having a point-of-contact in whom you can trust and consider a "first line of defense" is never a bad plan. Most of you who have children who participate in high-school athletics have probably heard, "There is no 'I' in TEAM." Having those whom you feel confident to help you find your way, or add valued advice to the solution that you already have in mind will strengthen your decisions. Once you personally feel confident about what you are to do, you then turn to God for guidance.

Start with at least one other believer, and then build a team. Jesus appointed twelve disciples to further His work. They had one assignment: to reach far and wide and to all crevices on earth with the Gospel; the Good News that Christ is our Savior. The disciples were hand-picked to be accountable to Jesus for the mission He had placed in them.

Is it not a good idea to have one person in addition to Christ that we are accountable to?

Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 5:11, "Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."

This verse highlights two key points. When you edify others, it is that type of encouragement that fuels further positive action by the whole team. Everyone feels better when they are spoken about with encouraging words; words of affirmation.

The second key point is that Paul praises them for the work that the Thessalonian people are already doing. He acknowledges that they are already, "doing good work." Again, this encouragement provides motivation. And when a group of people are on the same page, striving toward a common goal with a specific purpose in mind, everybody wins.

He provides more praise and further instructions in the following verses. In verse 12, he asks the people to "acknowledge those who work hard." In verse 13 to "hold those who work hard in high regard." Verse 14 explains that they "should be wary of those who are idle and disruptive, help the disheartened and the weak, and be patient." Do not "pay wrong with wrong, " in verse 15. In verses 16, 17 and 18 he asks them to "rejoice always, pray continually, and to always give thanks as the work that they are doing is God's will."

Let's review the steps in these 7 verses:

12: Acknowledge hard work

13: Hold others in high regard

14: Be patient with those who are not following God's will for His people

15: Wrong doing should not be paid in return with wrong

16: Always rejoice

17: Pray continually

18: Remember that your efforts are in line with God's will.

I challenge you today to review your steps.

Provide affirmation, lift others, be patient, right wrongs with encouragement and proof, rejoice, pray continually and stay in God's will.

To me this message can be applied universally. It may be best to start with the words in verse 12 and work up, or even in some situations to apply the urging in Paul's letter in reverse. Or finally, in such a way that each of the steps could be applied in a fashion that has no definitive order based on the circumstances at hand.

If you are fervent about following the will of God, His guidance will help you put the steps in the correct and perfect order.