Being Held Accountable

We are all held accountable by others.

Students are held accountable to study by pop quizzes.

Employees are held accountable through performance evaluations at work.

Kids are held accountable by printed chore lists.

Christians are held accountable by small groups and and ministries.

Friends are held accountable by friends.


This post will some what go hand and hand with my previous post on approval, but not quite. It is different enough thought to merit it's own post.

I've been thinking about this topic a lot recently in many different aspects.

In a recent conversation with my best friend she made a simple request, "If you see me doing something I shouldn't be doing, call me out on it."

My first response was, "I'm not going to do that. I can't do that." My second response was, "I don't want her to think that I'm judging her, cause believe me I am the last person to point out something in someone else."

Why did I respond that way? Because I knew if I called her out, that would open the doors wide open for her to call me out....and to be completely honest, I didn't want to have my flaws and mistakes brought out into the light.

Well, my plan didn't work quite the way I thought it would, she called me out on a few things (mainly my reading of horoscopes....but that's another post for another day). And I didn't know how to respond.

Looking at the situation though through the proper set of eyes, I realized in that very moment how thankful I am to have a friend to hold me accountable. Someone who knows my weakest areas and is willing to step up and say "I don't agree with what you are doing." and not just that she doesn't agree, she gives me scripture verses to back up what she is saying.

The more I began studying accountability, the more I came to the conclusion that God expects
 his children to hold each other accountable. He wants us to sharpen each other and call each other out because He want our focus to remain to on Him and sometimes someone saying "what are you doing?? stop it!" is exactly what we need to get out focus and concentration back where it should be.

Some verse I found that lead me to this conclusion are:

Proverbs 27:17
          Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. 

Matthew 18:15-16
          If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 

James 5:16
          Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. 

Luke 17:3
          Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.

 And that is just a few of many.

And it doesn't have to be big issues of life and death that you can hold others accountable on.

Questions like,
"Have you had your quiet time with the Lord today?"
"Where were you on Sunday? Missed you at church."
"Is there anything I can pray for you about?"

These are all ways to hold others accountable.

I thank God for all the people in my life who hold me accountable in so many different areas of my life (spiritually and no-spiritually)

My boss, who holds me accountable when it comes to having a good work ethic.
My doctor, who holds me accountable when it comes to improving my over all health.
My gym buddy, who holds me accountable to give my work out all that I've got.
My pastor, who holds me accountable to keep the faith
My parents, who holds me accountable when it comes to honoring responsibilty
And my best friend, who....well, holds me accountable for EVERYTHING! (lol)

I mean let's be honest how many of us would do our absolute best if we knew nobody was watching?
That's what I thought.

Hold others accountable and allow others to hold you accountable
It's a huge blessing!

A body of men holding themselves accountable to nobody ought not to be trusted by anybody.

When it comes to privacy and accountability, people always demand the former for themselves and the latter for everyone else.

Accountability breeds responsibility.


Live...Laugh....Love
Until Next Time,
Racheal <3

Approved

It's human nature to want to have the approval of others.

From the time we are infants, we recieve praise for the good things we do.

First roll over, sitting up on our own, standing up, taking first steps, and using the big kid potty just to name a few of the achievements we accomplish at young ages that merit praise and a pat on the back.

As we get older we still accomplish things and stll expect the same praise and congrats.

In kindergarten and elementary school, earning gold stars for good behavior was a huge deal!!

As we got older....there was allowance for doing chores and special gifts and privileges for getting on the A honor roll.

It's clear to see that from a young age, human beings are wired desire approval.

And that continues into adult hood.

Employee of the month, promotions, and raises at work are just a couple examples of adults receiving pats on the backs for good work. It's a way that an employer says, "I'm proud of you for all the hard work you put into this company and I want to recognize you for it."

On the flip side, the same people that can be proud of you and praise you at one point in time....can be disappointed in you and scold you at another point in time.

As a young kid it's stuff like hitting and biting.
And as a teen/adult it could be lying and cheating.

Having privileges taken away. Being lectured. Or even getting fired from a job. It's all ways of saying "I don't approve of your behavior, and I will not tolerate it."

Ask anyone of any age which they prefer and it will most likely be anonymous that approval is enjoyed a lot more than disappointment,

So in an effort to remain in the approval of others we do what ever it takes to please them. Sometimes to the point of physically and emotionally exhausting ourselves. And sometimes we become so focused on it that we find ourselves obsessed because we fear losing that approval (and ultimately that person's love).

We kiss butt, we try extra hard in our duties, and we go above and beyond what is asked of us to hear those 4 prized words, "I'm proud of you."

We sometimes get so caught up though in trying to please fellow humans that we place pleasing God on the back burner,

Just as humans have set in place certain expectations for other humans, God has set in place certain expectations for us to follow.

And when we place the approval of others on a higher pedestal than the approval of God, we can find ourselves in a dangerous situation.....especially if the task required to gain the approval of a fellow man contradicts the laws of the Lord.

The Bible makes it clear that all of his children are to be witnesses to His name and to spread the Gospel to those all over the world. And id we are faithful to follow through in the things God commands of us, we will one day be able to hear Him say to us "Well done thou good and faithful servant".

If you ask me, to hear Christ call me "good and faithful" would be the best approval of all.

To have the Lord of everything pat you on the back and say, "I'm proud of you. Thank you for obeying my commands." is the best form of approval anyone could ever have!

Don't get me wrong. Human approval is much desired and greatly appreciated. But don't let it consume your life and don't make it your number one goal.

There are more important things in life than earthly gold stars and thumbs up.
Don't lose yourself trying to please others. Self approval is just as important. If people are proud of you, but you are miserable....what good has really been achieved? 

And always, ALWAYS keep God first.

Do not look for approval except for the consciousness of doing your best.

Spanking and verbal criticism have become, to many parents, more important tools of child rearing than approval.

Courage, not compromise, brings the smile of God's approval.

People striving for approval from others become phony.

 Live....Laugh....Love
Until Next Time,
Racheal <3