Articles
Responsibility and Accountability
Responsibility, i.e., to be responsible, is something we accept or deny, and accountability, i.e., accountable, is something we face.
Biblically, mankind has two primary responsibilities: “The first is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God, the Lord is one: and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength. The second is this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these” (Mk. 12:29-31).
Biblically, mankind will be held accountable for how these two commandments are observed: “For we must all be made manifest before the judgment-seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he hath done, whether it be good or bad” (2 Cor. 5:10).
In our last post (Blessings and Responsibility to God) we considered our responsibility to God. In this, let us consider our Responsibility to Others.
Jesus put it this way: “All things therefore whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, even so do ye also unto them: for this is the law and the prophets” (Matt. 7:12). In what manner can a man fulfill this standard?
Responsibility: To Love them
This love is an active good will: “Christian love, whether exercised toward the brethren, or toward men generally, is not an impulse from the feelings, it does not always run with the natural inclinations, nor does it spend itself only upon those for whom some affinity is discovered. Love seeks the welfare of all” (Rom. 15:2)… “love seeks opportunity to do good to 'all men, and especially toward them that are of the household of the faith’ ” (Gal. 6:10) [Vine’s].
Accountability:
“Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry, and ye did not give me to eat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me not in; naked, and ye clothed me not; sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not” (Matt. 25:41-43).
Responsibility: To Teach them
Paul to Timothy: “And the things which thou hast heard from me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also” (2 Tim. 2:2).
Paul to the Ephesian Elders: “I shrank not from declaring unto you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly, and from house to house, testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:20-21).
Accountability:
“Wherefore I testify unto you this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I shrank not from declaring unto you the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:26-27).
- Responsibility_and_Accountability.pdf (56.79 kB)
