Excellence #9 - Accountability Series

Commitment To Excellence - Part 9

Accountability

Eccl 4:9-12; 12:13-14

Introduction: 4 Requirements of Accountability

A. Vulnerability - Capable of admitting mistakes & sin

B. Teachability - Willing to learn, quick to hear & respond to reproof.

C. Availability - Accessible, touchable, interruptible

D. Honesty - committed to the truth, even if it hurts

I. The Realms of Accountability

A. Divine Accountability

* (Rom 14:12) So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

B. Spiritual Accountability

* (Heb 13:17) Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.

C. Familial Accountability

* (Eph 5:21) Submit to one another …

* (Eph 6:1) Children, obey your parents …

D.Financial Accountability

* (Mal 3:8) Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

* (Rom 13:8) Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

E. Professional Accountability

* Rom 12:17) Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

F. Societal Accountability

E. Legal Accountability

* (1 Pet 2:13,15) Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: … For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.

G. Voluntary Accountability

II. The Reactions to Accountability

A. NO!

B. Why?

C. How?

III. The Roadblocks to Accountability

A. Pride

B. Fear

IV. The Reasons for Accountability -Those accountable are:

A. Less likely to stumble.

* (Prov 13:10) Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.

* (Prov 13:14) The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death.

* (Prov 13:18) He who ignores discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored.

* (Prov 13:20) He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.

* (Prov 15:31-33) He who listens to a life-giving rebuke will be at home among the wise. He who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever heeds correction gains understanding. The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor.

B. More likely to see the whole picture.

* (Prov 27:17) As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.

* (Prov 27:19) As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man.

C. Not likely to get away with sinful and unwise behavior.

* (Prov 27:6) Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

5. The Rewards of Accountability

A. It builds friendships

B. It leads to brotherhood

C. It develops Christlikness