Sermon Central
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What Accountability Means
Contributed by Richard Cook on Aug 25, 2009 (message contributor)
Summary: Teaches believers what it means to be truly accountable for ones self and their actions, because one day we will all have to give and account of ourselves; and we will be judged according to thought-word and deed.
Rom 14: 9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. 10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
ACCOUNTABILITY - We Hear it all the time… (management buzz word) but WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
ac•count•a•ble - 1. Liable to being called to account; answerable.
WE TALK ALLOT ABOUT BEING RESPONSIBLE - “The Buck stops here!” etc.
**** But I am afraid that sometimes we confuse being apologetic with being accountable.
As long as I am sorry – we think we are accountable. Not always…
Your not accountable UNTIL it costs you something to PAY for what your have done!
Store sign: “You break it, you bought it!” = that’s accountability
So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. WOW…
A Pretty humbling reality… (if this book is true…) We have some explaining to do!
ac•count - 1.a. A narrative or record of events. b. A reason given for a particular action.
Someone that understands accountability – understands responsibility. (which requires maturity)
Admiral Rickover: “Unless you can point to a specific person to hold responsible for an action,
then you had no one truly responsible.”
Sometimes we think that just saying sorry makes us accountable… (no - restitution does!)
Jesus had just stopped under the tree where Zacheaus was and invited himself to dinner
Luke 19: 7 And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. 8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. 9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
Want to know why salvation could come to his house that day? - He Understood Accountability!
( SOME FOLKS ARE CONSTANTLY WILLING TO LET SOMEONE ELSE PAY FOR THEM )
Eph 4: 26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 Neither give place to the devil. 28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
THAT is accountability…! Stop stealing and reverse your actions! CHANGE! FIX THE PROBLEM!
( when you want to fix it bad enough – you will! ) - until our sins costs us – we wont stop them
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GOD WILL HELP US… BUT HE WILL NOT DO FOR US WHAT IS IN OUR POWER TO DO!
II Thes 3: 6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.
For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;
Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: 9 Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us. 10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. 11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. 12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. 13 But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing. (DON’T LET LAZY PEOPLE WEAR YOU OUT) 14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
DON’T LET SAINTS PUT YOU ON CONSTANT GUILT TRIP! (some folks are travel agents for them)
Yes, we are to do good unto others, and bless one another… but we are not to underwrite anyone’s laziness!
( PHONE CALL: “yo, you all help people with your rent? )
