Accountability Series

Accountability

In Genesis 2:18 it says, “Then the LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to live alone. I will make a suitable companion to help him." (GNT)

God in His divine plan knew that it was not good for man to be alone. When God created the universe and everything in it, the Bible records how ‘God saw that all of it was good’. However, when God created Adam, God said, ‘It is not good for man to live alone’ and that’s why He created Eve as a suitable companion for her. However, in today’s society many are opting to be single or unmarried and choose to lead solitary lives.

When a person decides to be single, no matter how good the notion may be, it first and foremost goes against God’s plan for mankind. It is therefore apparent then that a person who chooses to be alone, is more likely to fall into a bondage and trap that Satan sets up for them. A person who chooses loneliness, gives room for his mind and thoughts to be captured by the evil one. We looked in detail in the previous chapter how our thoughts can lead to imaginations, and then end up being strongholds that Satan can control and enslave. If one can avoid this loneliness, and learn instead to be accountable to someone, we can certainly protect ourselves from becoming targets of Satan and his strongholds.

In Proverbs 18:1, we read, “One who isolates himself pursues selfish desires; he rebels against all sound judgment.”(HCSB)

The one who does not incorporate himself with others but chooses a life of alienation, is usually as the verse explains someone who only pursues his own selfish desires. Such people are also mostly rebellious and do not wish to heed any advice from anyone, and will get irritated when anyone suggests anything. A selfish and self-centered person will want to have their own way in everything and will not be willing to live in co-operation with others. Often the fault may lie with us, but instead of setting things in order in our own lives, we find it easier to find fault and blame others for all our problems.

In days gone by we used to communicate with each other by writing letters. It used to take a lot of time and effort to do this, but people went to great lengths to write and communicate only because they valued relationships. Now, we have smart phones and internet which should technically have advanced our communication with each other, but sadly this is not the case. Our communications with others have dwindled down to minimal words and emoji’s. Many of us have become islands and prefer this isolated and lonely way of functioning.

A father went to his daughter-in-law’s parents with this complaint. He said, ‘I imagined that when you said your daughter never looked up, that she was shy, but now I know what you mean. It is indeed true that when she starts looking down at and gets hooked up on to her phone, she sure never looks up at anyone.’ This may sound funny, but the fact of the matter is the virtual world is not a real world, and we must decide and make a conscious effort to communicate with those real people who live right next to us. Instead of Parents handing over smart phones and tabs to children to keep them occupied, must make it a point to speak and listen and communicate with them in a meaningful way. It is only in relating with others does one learn to be accountable. This is absolutely impossible in virtual relationships.

Some of us fast for a day in a week, so we can discipline ourselves, forfeit a meal so we can spend time meaningfully with God. It is a good idea from time to time to take a fast from our phones too. Instead we can spend time meaningfully with our families and with other people. This will surely prove to be beneficial to us in building meaningful relationships.

We must seek good godly companions to whom we can be accountable to. For a married couple their spouse should always be their best friend and spiritual mentor. Husbands and wives should motivate one another and also learn be accountable for each other’s spiritual growth. Those who are not married should find a good friend to whom they can be accountable to.

2 Corinthians 2:12-13, “When I went to the city of Troas, the Lord gave me an opportunity to spread the Good News about Christ. But I didn't have any peace of mind, because I couldn't find Titus, our brother, there. So I said goodbye to the people in Troas and went to the province of Macedonia. (GW)