A Different Look At Accountability

We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

Romans 12:6-8

We Christians talk a lot about accountability.
The basic idea is that we should hold each other to Biblical standards.

Some people take this concept so seriously that they form accountability groups, which is not wrong at all. Usually, “accountability partners” ask each other questions like:

Did you skimp on your Bible reading this week?
Were you a good witness at school or at work?
Have you looked at pornography since we last met?
Etc.

The discussion (in my experience) usually revolves around making sure we’re doing all the stuff that makes us “good Christians”.

That’s a good start, but I believe there’s a higher level of accountability required of God’s people.

What if accountability was focused more on making each other great than making sure we were being good?

We would all agree, and rightfully so, that if you see blatant sin in the life of another Christian, it is your responsibility to call it out. To challenge it. To confront it.

But what about when you see blatant potential that is lying dormant in another Christian’s life? When you see underdeveloped greatness in the life of someone you love, isn’t it just as important to call that out too?

To ask each other questions like:

1. Are you consistently cultivating the anointing that God has placed on your life? Or do you have skills and abilities that are rusting in the toolbox?
2. Are you taking full responsibility to steward every gift God has given you, stretching yourself beyond your prefabricated limitations? Are you stretching your faith? Is your faith growing big?
3. Do you have a God sized vision for your life? Are you fulfilling it daily?
4. Have you said no to a risk that God recently instructed you to take? Are you out of your boat?
5. Is your life oriented around changing the world or merely surviving it?

Can I encourage you to do this today and all week next week (in fact your whole life)?

Approach someone in your life who is living below his or her potential and privilege as a child of God. Someone who has let some dreams lie dormant because of fear, insecurity, busyness, or laziness.

Remind them how gifted and resourced they are to do exploits for God.
Get in their face about the greatness of God in their life.
Speak into them about their unlimited and unique potential in Christ.

And call it out.