Hold Yourself Accountable

By Rachael Renee

“Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:1-2 ESV )The focus of this article is outlined in this scripture which is about the importance of
accountability in one’s life. How can we know what accountability is if we don’t first define the word accountable? Accountable, according to Merriam Webster, is defined as: subject to giving an account: ANSWERABLE. The definition of accountability, according to Merriam Webster, is the quality or state of being accountable. Accountable means that you’re able to give a report, update, or answer about something. Someone who is accountable is one who is responsible in giving updates and answers to someone. The verse previously mentioned, Galatians 6:1-2 (ESV), doesn’t specifically use the word accountability but it’s the word that is most applicable. The scripture is telling us to have accountability and watch what we do, think, or say so that we don’t fall into the temptations of the devil. Let’s break it down even further.

We’ve talked about being accountable to someone but what does personal accountability look like? I’m glad you asked. Romans 14:12 (NLT) says, “Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God.” Meaning that we will be giving HIM a report and answers about our lives and no one else’s. That right there is personal accountability.

Some people might think that accountability and responsibility are the same but let’s compare and contrast them to see how similar or different they truly are. Accountability according to Oxford Languages is defined as the fact or condition of being accountable; responsibility. Whereas, according to Oxford Languages responsibility is the state or fact of having a duty to deal with something or of having control over someone. The main difference is that responsibility deals with having a duty or having to care for someone else. Accountability is the act of being responsible or answering to someone, not necessarily caring for them. Accountability is taking ownership of the results that have been produced while responsibility refers more to someone’s duty to complete a task. Now they do have similar characteristics in nature which is why we must be both accountable and responsible for the tasks given to us in our lives.

Why is accountability important? 2 Corinthians 5:10 (NLT) says “For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.” We will all give an account before God, it’s not a choice we get to make. On the other hand, we can choose to hold ourselves accountable to other people, meaning that we answer to other people about choices we make in our daily life. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NLT) says “Two people are better than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.” These verses are saying that it’s good for you to have people who help you and from whom you can learn. It is likened to iron sharpening iron, mentioned in Proverbs 27:17 (NIV) “As iron sharpens iron so one person sharpens another.”

Personally, my parents are my accountability partners. For example, if my Dad knows that I have an essay due on the 15th he’ll be asking me about it on the 1st. He’ll ask, “So how’s your paper coming?” And if I haven’t done anything he’ll ask when it’s due and when I plan on finishing it to keep me on point. My mother checks in to make sure I’m on track with projects I’m working on and gives good input. An example of that suggesting I add more eye-catching elements to my website to make it “Pop”. Overall, accountability is very important in my life because it helps me to stay on track and my parents are there to remind me I need to get it together.

So, let’s quickly summarize all the points previously made. Our good friend Merriam Webster helped us define the word accountable as: subject to giving an account: ANSWERABLE; then accountability was defined as the quality or state of being accountable. There were scriptures to support the fact that we have to be accountable to God for our lives and that it’s mandatory, not optional. We compared accountability and responsibility to each other and found some differences as well as similarities. One of the main differences is that you can be responsible during the duration of completing a task but you take accountability for the results you produce in the end. There is also mention of accountability partners in the Bible in James 5:16 (NASB 1977), which says, “Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” So be sure to hold yourself accountable for the things you do, think, or say in your life knowing that you will have to account for it before God.

You can follow the author of this post, Rachael Renee on her personal Instagram.