A is for Accountability

Accountability, it’s a fairly simple phenomena, take responsibility for ones actions, but for many it can be as difficult as climbing Mount Everest. Rather than owning up to ones mistakes, failures, and flaws it’s often easier to shift the blame to someone or something else.  Other times it’s simpler to act as if no wrong doing has occurred.

When one places hot coffee between ones legs while driving and becomes burned, how can the fault fall on anyone other than self? Whose responsible for making sure children eat healthy nutritional meals–parents or the fast food industries?

When we allow anger to rule and heated, flaming sentiments blaze from our lips laced with singe and trimmed with quips intended to wound is it not our lack of self control?

Why is it so hard to take accountability for ones actions? Why do we find it so hard to admit when we are wrong? Do we feel ashamed when we are confronted with our wrongs? Do we feel guilty, saddened by our actions or do we just hate to admit when we are wrong? Has our moral compasses gone so far of course that we don’t even recognize our wrongs. 

It’s very difficult to face our sin. We want to shift blame–hide. So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.” Genesis 3:10.

It takes courage to take accountability–admit when we are wrong–confess our sins. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 5:16. It is the beginning of reconciliation of repairing a broken relationship. Stop…confess…apologize and ask for forgiveness, don’t make excuses or refuse to accept your wrong doing.

A soft answer turns away rage, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1. Instead, speaking  the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. Ephesians 4:15.

Blessings, Kasey