Who Do You Answer to? I Samuel 2:12-29
Introduction: While deer hunting in southern Ohio this past week I had a sad story related to me.I was talking to a youth pastor while we were waiting to start hunting, and he asked if I had huntedwith a man named Billy (not his real name). I told him I had not, and he proceeded to tell me Billy’s story. Billy had hunted with the group a few years before, and had even gone to Promise Keepers with some of the men in the church. Most of the guys hunting together go to the same church. Billly had even gotten saved at the Promise Keepers event. After that his wife divorced him, and he became insanely jealous of any men being around her. One day he saw another man’s car in the driveway, and so he went and got a gun. He went into the house and shot the man on the couch, and then went upstairs and beat and raped his ex-wife. He proceeded to drag her out to the car and took off. Someone called the police, and soon they had found him. Billy left his wife in the car, and went out behind a gas station and shot himself. The most heartbreaking part, is in the words of the man telling me the story, "I didn’t know him very well." This sad account powerfully portrays the reason why we need other Christians to be accountable to. Christiansneed other Christians who will be close enough to ask them the tough questions, and help prevent this kind of tragedy. Mentoring fits the bill for this particular need. In my last message I said there were three dynamics in successful mentoring: attraction, responsiveness, and accountability. I showed you how all of them were in Jesus’ relationship to his disciples. I also said that I would look at accountability in more detail in a later
message, and I want to do that this morning. In 1 Samuel 2:12-29 we can see what happens when accountability is absent.
"Eli’s sons were wicked men; they had no regard for the Lord. Now it was the practice of the priests with the people that whenever anyone offered a sacrifice and while the meat was being boiled, the servant of the priest would come with a three-pronged fork in his hand. He would plunge it into the pan or kettle or caldron or pot, and the priest would take for himself whatever the fork brought up. This is how they treated all the Israelites who came to Shiloh. But even before the fat was burned, the servant of the priest would come and say to the man who was sacrificing, "Give the priest some meat to roast; he won’t accept boiled meat from you, but only raw." If the man said to him, "Let the fat be burned up first, and then take whatever you want," the servant would then answer, "No, hand it over now; if you don’t, I’ll take it by force." This sin of the young men was very great in the Lord’s sight, for they were treating the Lord’s offering with contempt .... v 22 Now Eli, who was very old, heard about everything his sons were doing to all Israel and how they slept with the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. So he said to them, "Why do you do such things? I hear from all the people about the wicked deeds of yours. No, my sons; it is not a good report that I hear spreading among the Lord’s people. If a man sins against another man, God may mediate for him; but if a man sins against the Lord, who will intercede for him?" His sons, however did not listen to their father’s rebuke, for it was the Lord’s will to put them to death. (I Samuel 2:12-25)
I WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THERE IS NO ACCOUNTABILITY?
This passage begins with a conclusion about the character of Eli’s sons, and then the following verses spell out the details of their corruption. As I read about their horrible sins, I wondered how could preachers/priests kids fall so far into such awful corruption. It was not because they didn’t know better, because they were raised in the house of the Lord. They were themselves priests who not only knew the law, but they also taught the law. However, information alone does not produce change. In his book Iron Sharpens Iron Howard Hendricks tells of an experience he had as a youth director while attending Wheaton College. He had a boy in the junior department who had memorized 600 verses perfectly. If you gave him any reference, he could spit out the verse word for word. One day Howard discovered that someone had been stealing money out of the junior department offering. When he investigated, he discovered that their 600-verse prodigy was the culprit. Howard even caught him red-handed. So he took him into his office and confronted him with his wrong-doing. Howard even gave him a verse of Scripture to drive his point home, but the prodigy proceeded to tell him that he had misquoted the verse. Finally, Howard asked him if he saw any connection between the verse of Scripture and his stealing from the offering. To which he responded, "No," "Well, maybe." When he was asked what the connection was he responded, "I got
caught." He had a lot of Bible knowledge, but it had not produced a change in his character much
like Eli’s sons.
It was also not the lack of a godly role model as a parent that caused the boys to go bad. Today a lot of blame is placed on the parents for the failure of the children, but according to what we know Eli was a godly priest. He lived right himself, but his biggest failure was not making his sons accountable for their actions. I think it probably happened slowly over time. The first time they did wrong and Eli overlooked it began a pattern of behavior. As all children they kept pushing the limits until the parents stop them, and seemingly Eli never did. Proverbs 13:24 says, "He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him." Because Eli did not discipline his sons, they became unruly. It was a degeneration over time until they had the audacity to take from the peoples sacrifices before God got his part. They also committed adultery with the women who served in the temple of the Lord. They had true sunk to a place where their conscience was no longer operational. The failure of their consciences to convict them was a result of their father’s failure to hold them accountable for their actions growing up. In verse 22 we hear a rebuke that is too little too late to save his sons from spiritual destruction. It is too weak because according to
Number 15: 30-31 they were to be sent away or killed for their sin. "But if anyone sins defiantly, whether native-born or alien, blasphemes the Lord, and that person must be cut off from his people. Because he has despised the Lord’s word and broken his commands, that person must surely be cut off; his guilt remains on him."
However, the primary reason that they became corrupt was that they did not listen to what their father told them, as is seen in verse 25. Just because a person is called to account does not mean that they will heed the warning. The popular religious singer, Sandy Patti, confessed after her adulterous affair that ended her marriage, that her friends asked all the right questions, but she simply lied to them Friends can call us to account, but we must respond positively if it is going to benefit us spiritually.
In verse 29 God blames Eli for failing to punish his sons, and says that in so doing Eli has honored them above God himself. It was because he had failed to restrain his sons that they had corrupted others (V. 22). Children are to learn that they have to give an account before God for their actions by having to give account to their parents. Eli did not do that, and so his sons did not fear giving an account to God. This is how I believe preachers kids could fall so far from the straight and narrow.
The second question I asked was, "What happens without accountability?" The first answer this passage indicates is that we tend to fall into sin. You see, it is much easier to slip into sin and then ask God for forgiveness, then to have to tell another human we have sinned. If we know someone is going to ask us about our sin we are less likely to yield to it. An evangelist friend told his wife to ask him whenever they are apart for a couple of days, "Have you been faithful to me?" It is much easier to say no to the temptation when you know your wife is going to ask you if you have been faithful as soon as you walk in the door.
The second result of no accountability is we continue in sin. If we are not confronted, we will go deeper and deeper into sin, as Eli’s sons did. King David also went from lust to adultery, and proceeded downward to deceit and murder. We need someone to stop our downward plunge through accountability, and often God can do it through his Holy Spirit. However, as we will see later God often uses other people also.
The third result of a lack of accountability is our spiritual lives are wreaked. Later we are told that Eli’s sons not only wreaked their spiritual lives, but also had their physical lives ended because of their sin. The PTL scandal with Jim Baker, and the fall of Jimmy Swaggert show how a lack of accountability can ruin our spiritual lives. There is a huge danger in being at the top of an organization if you are not answering to someone. One good thing out of these scandals was an independent financial watchdog group was created to oversee the financial dealing of religious organizations. Of course they only oversee those ministries who ask them to do so, but this helps those who are giving to have confidence their offerings are being used wisely. This is how accountability is supposed to work.
II IN OTHER AREAS OF OUR LIVES WE SEE THE NEED FOR
ACCOUNTABILITY.
In other areas of our life it is not hard for us to see the need for accountability, but we have great difficulty seeing the need for it in our spiritual lives. On the job where you work, think about what would happen if there was no supervision. What if you could do whatever you wanted on the job, and no one would check up on your work. I know what would happen in most places; not much would get done. On the third shift at the Peabody Coal Company there was no supervision, and so guys would deer hunt all day and sleep on the job. The end result was Peabody closed the mine, and they all lost their jobs. How about on the highway? We all know what the laws are because we had to pass a written test on them to get our drivers license. So why do we need the highway patrol? What would happen on the road if there were no police to enforce the laws? You know it would be an absolute mess. Think about a lack of accountability in the area of credit. Do banks give you money and tell youto pay it back anyway you want, when you want, or if you want? You know they don’t! They set up a payment schedule, and you have to do it their way or you are in trouble. We all see the need in the area of credit, but what would society be like if we only answered to ourselves? The book of Judges give us a glimpse of a world where, "everyone did what was right in his own eyes." It is a scary picture.
We have accountability in society, because we know change rarely happens alone. Jean Nidetch, a 214-pound homemaker desperate to lose weight, went to the New York City Department of Health, where she was given a diet devised by Dr. Norman Jolliffe. Two months later, discouraged about the 50 plus pounds still to go, she invited six overweight friends home to share the diet and talk about how to stay on it. Today, 28 years later, one million members attend 25,000 Weight Watchers meetings in 24 countries every week. Why was Nidetch able to help people take control of their lives? To answer that question, she tells a story. When she was a teenager, she used to cross a park where she saw mothers gossiping while their toddlers sat on their swings, with no one to push them. "I’d give them a push," says Nidetch. "And you know what happens when you push a kid on a
swing? Pretty soon he’s pumping, doing it himself. That’s what my role in life is--I’m there to give
others a push." We have probation officers to check up on ex-cons, because change rarely happens
alone.
We have various support groups, such as Alcoholics anonymous, because change rarely happens alone
The main factor that produces success in these groups is accountability to the group. So why do wethink we can change in our spiritual lives by our selves? God created the church because he knew
we couldn’t make it by ourselves. The church was designed by God to incorporate spiritual accountability into our lives. This brings me to my third point, which is we need accountability in our spiritual lives.
III WE NEED ACCOUNTABILITY IN OUR SPIRITUAL LIVES
We need others to call us to account. God used other people to confront sin in the lives of his
people, and he didn’t just do it himself. God had the prophet Nathan to confront King David for his
sins of adultery and murder (2 Samuel 12). God had Samuel to confront Saul for offering a sacrifice
that only a priest was supposed to offer (1 Samuel 13). Later Samuel confronted Saul for failing kill
everything in a battle with the Amalekites (1 Samuel 15). In the New Testament God used Paul to
confront Peter for yielding to peer pressure (Galatians 2). Proverbs 13:10 says, "Wisdom is found
in those who take advise." Also Proverbs 13:18 says, "He who ignores discipline comes to poverty
and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored." Therefore, we need to be open to correction.
The writer of Proverbs says, "Better is an open rebuke than hidden love. Wounds from a friend can
be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses." John Wesley, the founder of our movement, was known
for organizing bands or small groups of six people, of the same sex, for pastoral care. Each band was
asked four questions at every meeting:
What known sins have you committed since our last meeting? What temptations have you met with?
How were you delivered?
What have you thought, said or done, of which you doubt whether it be sin or not?
(From Accountability by Wayne Schmidt p. 35)
These questions would probably horrify many churchgoers if they were asked them today. However,
Chuck Swindoll has seven questions that a group of fellow pastors challenge each other with periodically:
1. Have you been with a woman anywhere this past week that might be seen as compromising?
2. Has any of your financial dealing lacked integrity?
3. Have you exposed yourself to any sexually explicit material?
4. Have you spent adequate time in Bible study and prayer?
5. Have you given priority time to your family?
6. Have you fulfilled the mandates of your calling? 7. Have you just lied to me?
(From Chuck Colson, The Body)
We need to open our spiritual lives to someone we trust and admire. James 5:16 says, "Confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed." In our reaction against the Roman Catholic church we have abandoned the admonition in this verse. God, however did not do away with this verse. I have been wondering why God said to do this difficult thing, and I have come up with some possible answers. I believe Satan wins most often when we try to battle him alone in our private thoughts. We may have past sins that we have difficulty believing God could forgive, and someone else needs to assure us of God’s forgiveness (John 20:23). We may have been sinned against, but still feel guilty for it. Such is often the case in a rape or molestation. The victim often blames themselves for something they are not guilty of. They need someone to tell them the truth that they were a victim Biblical counselors tell us a person rarely heals from a trauma without talking to someone about it. This verse in James tells us healing often takes place in groups, even if the group is only made up of two people. I wonder how much healing we have missed because we haven’t confessed our sins to one another, and allowed their prayers to cleanse our guilt. One of the most irnportant factors in confession and accountability is that it has to be voluntary. You can’t force someone to bare their soul. If there is not trust and confidentiality in the relationship the person would be foolish to confess their sins. The person receiving the confession must be a mature person of grace and compassion, who will not be judgmental or harsh. The simplest form of accountability is to share with someone an area in which you are struggling, and ask them to check up on you periodically in this area. For instance, "I’m having trouble with gossip so would you stop me if you hear me starting, and ask me how I’m doing with it once a week." This has to be done one-on-one or in a small group to be effective.
Conclusion: We have been talking about accountability in Sunday School and other church settings, but we have not actually done much of it. I have heard people say, "I don’t know how to go about it." I want to give you a list of twenty-six questions from Gordon MacDonald, found in his book Rebuilding Your Broken World, that will give you some handles on how to set up an accountability relationship with someone.
In Rebuilding Your Broken World, Gordon MacDonald suggests twenty-six questions to help develop accountability and invite feedback. If we desire to grow, we should submit our
selves to a spiritual mentor and answer these questions honestly.
1. How is your relationship with God right now?
2. What have you read in the Bible in the past week?
3. What has God said to you in this reading?
4. Where do you find yourself resisting Him these days?
5. What specific things are you praying for in regard to yourself?
7. What are the specific tasks facing you right now that you consider incomplete?
8. What habits intimidate you?
9. What have you read in the secular press this week?
10. What general reading are you doing?
11. What have you done to play?
12. How are you doing with your spouse? Kids?
13. If I were to ask your spouse about your state of mind, state of spirit, state of energy level, what would the response be?
14. Are you sensing spiritual attacks from the enemy right now?
15. If Satan were to try to invalidate you as a person or as a servant of the Lord, how might he do it?
16. What is the state of your sexual perspective? Tempted? Dealing with fantasies? Entertainment?
17. Where are you financially right now? (things under control? under anxiety? in great debt?)
18. Are there any unresolved conflicts in your circle of relationships right now?
19. When was the last time you spent time with a good friend of your own gender?
20. What kind of time have you spent with anyone who is a non-Christian this month? 22. What would you say are your fears at this present time?
23. Are you sleeping well?
24. What three things are you most thankful for?
25. Do you like yourself at this point in your pilgrimage?
26. What are your greatest confusions about your relationship with God? Leading the Way by Paul Borthwick, Navpress, 1989, Page 171-172
