What does it mean to be accountable? Imagine you were in a conference for your job and your boss says, “I’m going to hold you accountable for what we discussed.”
You might notice people’s expressions and the tone of the meeting has changed. You might think of it as a threat, and believe that your boss is just looking for a reason so say “gotcha.”
But the reality is that accountability is rewarding. People today have created a negative a connotation for this word. We usually tend to think accountability shows up when something goes wrong and people want to blame or point fingers at someone; it is also, in ways, viewed as a “punishment” for not doing something. Yet in order to see growth and have success we must have accountability. Webster’s dictionary defines accountability as “the quality or state of being; an obligation or willingness to accept responsibility for one’s actions” but we will also review a verse from the Bible:
20 “Again, when a righteous person turns from their righteousness and does evil, and I put a stumbling block before them, they will die. Since you did not warn them, they will die for their sin. The righteous things that person did will not be remembered, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. 21 But if you do warn the righteous person not to sin and they do not sin, they will surely live because they took warning, and you will have saved yourself.”
(Ezekiel 3:20-21 NIV)
There is a difference between a good and a nice person. The nice person will tell you what you want to hear, while the good person will tell you what is right. Our difficulty lies in calling someone out when you know they are doing something wrong, whether it is a friend or a family member. In life we will face struggles, whether or not we are aware of it. People have become so focused on what people think of them and how their identity is viewed by others that they are fearful of judgement. Everyone just wants to fit in and go with the societal norms. No one wants to be that person who creates tension or makes that uncomfortable environment, but sometimes being a good leader means pushing other people to be better. A good leader calls people out they see something isn't lining up. That is how you gain respect. Yes, your friend will be mad because the truth is something hard to listen to, but this not to be confused with hating or punishment. Let that person know you love and looking for the best in them.
Accountability is not meant to shame anybody, it's meant make you into a better person. So I encourage you to come to terms with your own struggles in order to stay humble. I encourage you to embrace your friends with a loving, graceful, and truthful heart. Carry the burdens of all your brothers and sisters, so that they might one day share help others as well. Change is difficult, we do not want to face it or talk about it, but if we are always spectators, who will lead?
