Accountability

Posted on February 18, 2019 by America's Keswick in Freedom Fighters

Good morning on this new week of Freedom Fighters. Thank you for dialing in again this week, and I trust that you will enjoy this weeks post from your favorite blogger.

I want to share with about the subject of accountability. The young leaders that I have been involved with encouraged me to start a leadership page on Facebook which will eventually become a blog.

I asked myself the question, “Why do I need to do this? Who in the world will ever read it and why would they be interested?”

One of my friends said, “You’ve been in ministry and some form of leadership for 45 years. You have learned so much over the years so why not share the things you have learned with others so that they can grow?”

So my new Facebook page is called READ GROW LEAD. I would love for you to visit the page and give me your feedback.

So for the next couple of weeks, I want to revisit the topic of accountability.

Most of us don’t think we need accountability – but I am here to tell you – if you are a leader be in church ministry or in the secular world, WE NEED ACCOUNTABILITY.

In my almost 30 years of conference ministry, I have heard numerous times from a preacher, and many times a nationally known speaker, say, “I will not be accountable to any man. I am accountable to God and God alone.”

I can give you illustration after illustration of men who are no longer in leadership or in the pulpit who made that statement because they refused accountability.

My mentor and friend, Pastor Robert Alderman said that we should embrace an “examined life.” This is a life where someone you trust can ask the tough questions – not fluff and stuff – but the kind of questions that will dig beneath the surface to examine who you really are and why.

In the biblical account of David and Bathsheba, we almost always focus on David’s sin of adultery and the cold-blooded murder of Uriah. The character that we tend to gloss over is Nathan the prophet.

If you remember the story, Nathan comes to David and presents him with a scenario to think about:

Then the Lord sent Nathan to David. And he came to him and said to him: “There were two men in one city, one rich and the other poor. ² The rich man had exceedingly many flocks and herds. ³ But the poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb which he had bought and nourished; and it grew up together with him and with his children. It ate of his own food and drank from his own cup and lay in his bosom, and it was like a daughter to him. ⁴ And a traveler came to the rich man, who refused to take from his own flock and from his own herd to prepare one for the wayfaring man who had come to him; but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.”

⁵ So David’s anger was greatly aroused against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this ^[a]shall surely die! ⁶ And he shall restore fourfold for the lamb, because he did this thing and because he had no pity.”

⁷ Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! 1 Samuel 12:1-7

Nathan took a HUGE risk when he confronted David. You need to go on and read the rest of the chapter. This guy was not untouchable by the King even though he was a prophet. Think about the risk – with the snap of a finger, a blink of the eye – one word from the lips of King David – Nathan could have found himself in a dark, dank prison cell, or worse yet, his head could have been cut off.

But Nathan was daring enough, bold enough, courageous enough to confront David and hold him accountable. David’s sin was most certainly grievous and had to pay the consequences, but this was the beginning of the turning around in David’s life. Everything was now out in the open.

That’s what we are going to talk about in the next several weeks.

Relentlessly pursuing Christ,

Bill Welte, President/CEO
America’s Keswick

Written by Bill Welte: Written by Bill Welte,President/CEO of America’s Keswick: Bill has been married to his childhood sweetheart for 40+ years and has four married kids and 11 amazing grandkids. He loves music and is an avid reader.

The Daily Bible Reading: Exodus 4-6, Mark 15:26-47 | You can download our 2018 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Think About This: “Freedom from sin is worth dying for, according to Jesus. It’s also worth living for!” — Stephen Arterburn

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: Blessed is the man You choose, and cause to approach You, that he may dwell in Your courts. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, of Your holy temple. – Psalm 65:4