Integrity Is The Key Ingredient To Individual Accountability

By Pastor Isaac Scott 

Accountability
the fact or condition of being accountable; responsibility; Accountable>>>(of a person, organization, or institution) required or expected to justify actions or decisions; responsible.

OPENING PASSAGE
2 Corinthians 5:1-10 The Message

We know that when these bodies of ours are taken down like tents and folded away, they will be replaced by resurrection bodies in heaven—God-made, not handmade—and we’ll never have to relocate our “tents” again. Sometimes we can hardly wait to move—and so we cry out in frustration. Compared to what’s coming, living conditions around here seem like a stopover in an unfurnished shack, and we’re tired of it! We’ve been given a glimpse of the real thing, our true home, our resurrection bodies! The Spirit of God whets our appetite by giving us a taste of what’s ahead. He puts a little of heaven in our hearts so that we’ll never settle for less.

6-8 That’s why we live with such good cheer. You won’t see us drooping our heads or dragging our feet! Cramped conditions here don’t get us down. They only remind us of the spacious living conditions ahead. It’s what we trust in but don’t yet see that keeps us going. Do you suppose a few ruts in the road or rocks in the path are going to stop us? When the time comes, we’ll be plenty ready to exchange exile for homecoming.

9-10 But neither exile nor homecoming is the main thing. Cheerfully pleasing God is the main thing, and that’s what we aim to do, regardless of our conditions. Sooner or later we’ll all have to face God, regardless of our conditions. We will appear before Christ and take what’s coming to us as a result of our actions, either good or bad.

INTEGRITY IS THE KEY INGREDIENT TO ACCOUNTABILITY
Part of being accountable is having integrity (the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness. Integrity is important because we are all biased about our actions. Many of us throw stones from a high mansion. We dish it out but we can’t take it back. We want others to be patient and forgiving but we are not willing to forgive. We minimize the truth. We tell only our part of the story, only our truths and our realities in the situation matter to us……..Or we turn to the blame game. MANY PEOPLE CANNOT JUSTIFY THEIR ACTIONS OR DECISIONS, NOR DO THEY TAKE ANY FORM OR RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR OWN BEHAVIOR THAT IS OUTSIDE OF BLAMING SOMEONE ELSE FOR THEIR FOR THE EVENTS THAT TRANSPIRED. Many of yall sound like “well, I did that because they did this to me first….” ; “if you hadn’t done what you did then I would have felt like I needed to do what I did”. ​

• You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. 2 Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 3 So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? 4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? -Romans 2:1-4 NIV

As believers we are called to a higher level of service to one another. We are called to be peacemakers who are prepared and not afraid to go the extra mile, even when no one else is willing to. When we as believers fail to take full responsibility for our complete role in any sequence of events, we allow the pride of the lying devil to (enemy) blind us from receiving healing and support in the areas that the Lord wants to enhance our character.

• Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. 4 Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, 5 for each one should carry their own load. 6 Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor. -Galatians 6:1-6

When we carry Godly integrity we will no longer live according to our own emotionally driven truths because we are of God, we know that God is Love and we know that love rejoices in the truth, even the (hard to deal with) truth(s) about ourselves. Lies and half truths are an abomination to the Lord. The truth is vulnerable and not proud; the truth is whole and not one-sided. Being honest about where we may have went wrong is an opportunity for healing and correction:

• Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 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 5:13-16

THE REWARD OF ACCOUNTABILITY IS GRACE AND FAVOR FROM GOD

• When you stand accountable before God (first) and Man (in true repentance) God will forgive you for your sins. The scripture says “Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.”