Accountability
Age 17, Winn-Dixie supermarket hired me. It was 13 miles from home. Most of the time I hitch-hiked…and walked…rain…sunshine…sleet…snow…cold…hot…night…day.
Winn-Dixie had auditors come in every three months. Every item in the store---good, bad, torn, broken, bent---was counted. From stockroom to the front doors the auditors moved aisle by aisle…counting money in safe…money in cash registers...even checking the dumpster for items discarded.
At first I did not understand. When I asked the answer was clear: “If we do not audit what is sold or stocked, and what is broken, torn, bent, etc., how will we know what is being stolen? How will we know if we are making a profit or losing money?”
Inventory and accountability are vital words for those who follow Christ. Surrounding ourselves with mature and wise persons can make the difference of life and death.
Certain sinful addictions are almost impossible to break without accountability partners. Our brains can be so imprinted with lifestyles of past sin that re-training our minds is an agonizing process. Having wise counselors and care persons is a must when passing through dangerous intersections.
God chose Saul for his humility. Saul never demonstrated a great mind. Humility was his virtue. But position elevated Saul’s pride as king. He refused accountability. He failed miserably.
Solomon was given great wisdom by God. He vainly depended upon his wisdom. Puffed up, he did not know how to spell "humility." There is little reference to Solomon surrounding himself with counselors. He spoke wise words about counselors, but seemed to feel he was wise enough not to need counselors. Surely a few wise counselors would have known that he did not need a thousand women for his bedroom!
Have you noticed that Solomon is not in Chapter 11 of Hebrews Faith Heroes? So wise and yet so foolish. Only in old age did Solomon come to his senses and recognize his need of God (Ecclesiastes 1:2).
Rehoboam, Solomon’s son, called in counselors. He chose the counsel he liked and lost more than half of his kingdom. Died a failure. He liked foolish counselors who told what he wanted to hear.
Ours is a strange time. Folks try to serve God without church or a pastor. Folks lift themselves up in pride and arrogance, quoting scripture while they reject accountability and counsel.
Wisdom builds her house. Wisdom balances life in the scales of eternity and asks the hard questions that probe the soul.
Wisdom cuts through the fluff of feel good and vanity of “I like.”
Surrounded by people of powerful faith we stand upon the high hills. The winds blow. The storms come. We do not yield. Tomorrow is ours. We claim it. We believe it. We are children of God. We are walking in the heritage of men and women of faith who have blazed trails of faith.
On a Sunday as you prepare to join in corporate worship one of your highest and most noble objectives is to meet with accountability partners. You meet with the saints to bless others. You are “stock” in God’s grocery store. You are part of the family. Your absence affects inventory. Your fellowship is needed for the Body to move forward.
Beware of ego that argues self-preservation. Beware of Lone Ranger ego.
Jesus needed brothers around him. Jesus needed other men to share in his life. You do too!
Caring,
Pastor Bare