Responsibility and Accountability

6/1/2025

Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow.

A few weeks ago, we began looking at some of the hardest lessons we face as human beings. Today, I want to consider accepting personal responsibility and being accountable for our choices and actions. These are two of the most difficult lessons we have while indwelling these bodies.

Have you ever caught an unexpected glimpse of yourself in a mirror or a shop window? Sometimes, that reflection makes us pause, doesn’t it? We might notice a stray hair, a tired expression, or perhaps something deeper – a fleeting look that gives us a moment of honest self-assessment. Not long ago I was opening the car door and saw my reflection in the window. I thought it was my dad for a moment; I looked so much like him.

In our spiritual lives, God’s presence often acts as that unflinching mirror. It reflects not just our outward appearances, but the true condition of our hearts, our actions, and our willingness to take ownership of our spiritual progress and who we are in Christ.

Our world often encourages blame-shifting, excuse-making, and deflecting the consequences of our choices. To counter this, taking personal responsibility and holding ourselves accountable is more crucial than ever. It is not always comfortable, but it is essential for spiritual growth, for healthy relationships, and for truly honoring God with our lives.

As we review our life, and look at the world, we will spot the prevalence of avoiding being held accountable for anything negative. We do our best to dodge being personally responsible for things that do not go well or cause harm. It is a universal challenge, part of our human journey.

Knowing this, let us avoid what is called spiritual malpractice. This is where we judge others for their actions, even though we are doing something similar in our own lives. It is when we hold others in disregard for their choices and actions and believe they are wrong or lacking in some way. Be aware. This is spiritual malpractice. We have enough on our own spiritual plates, and do not need to be concerned about someone else’s path. Christ asks us to love each other, not judge each other or criticize each other.

The fundamental truth is that our basic accountability is to God Himself. In Romans 14:12 we read: “So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.” 2 Corinthians 5:10 tells us: “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”

These verses leave little room for ambiguity. There is a divine reckoning, a moment when we will stand before our Creator and account for the lives we have lived, the choices we have made, the talents He entrusted to us, and the opportunities we embraced or ignored. This truth is not meant to fill us with fear, but to inspire us to live with purpose, honesty, and faithfulness. Knowing that we are accountable to a holy and just God should shape our daily decisions, our words, and our actions.

To prepare for this final accounting Philippians 4:6 instructs, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”  Daily we can reset our standing with God. In our prayer time we can lay out what we have done and thought, and then listen for the guidance, the feelings of Spirit renewing us.

God calls us to take responsibility.  In Galatians 6:5 Paul teaches: “For each one should carry their own load.” This simple verse reminds us that God expects each of us to bear the weight of our own choices, actions, and duties. Responsibility is not something we can outsource or avoid. This is the point of the verse “you reap what you sow.” If you are mean, there is no one else to blame when you are treated with disdain in return.

As humans, we are really good at blame-shifting. We are told of it happening in the Garden of Eden. In Genesis 3, when confronted by God after disobeying His command regarding eating something forbidden what was Adam’s response? “Not my fault. The woman you put here with me – she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” And Eve? “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” The blame-shifting game started early, and it is a tactic humanity has employed ever since.

Yet the Bible consistently teaches that we are each answerable to what we do, think, and speak. “The devil made me do it,” just will not cut it. Ultimately, attempts to pass the buck are futile. As Numbers 32:23 teaches, “You may be sure that your sin will find you out.”

Proverbs 28:13 tells us: “Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.” Taking responsibility means more than admitting when we are wrong; it means turning from our wrongs and seeking God’s forgiveness and the people we have hurt. Confession is not a sign of weakness, but of spiritual maturity. When we own our mistakes before God and others, we open the door to mercy and restoration.

Micah 6:8 sums up our responsibility beautifully: “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” We are called to act justly in our relationships, to show mercy in our dealings, and to walk humbly, recognizing our dependence on God. This is a daily challenge, especially in a world that often encourages us to look out only for ourselves.

Why do we struggle some much in this area? There are many reasons. Sometimes it is fear of failure, of consequences, of judgment. It can be from the habit of making excuses or blaming others. Sometimes it is pride, or the desire to avoid discomfort. 

Human beings are subject to various cognitive biases, or mental traps, to avoid discomfort and simplify what we experience in the world. For instance, a common cognitive bias is the Confirmation Bias, which means that information confirming what we already believe gets noticed and processed, but we do not fully absorb new data that contradicts what we already believe is true.

Suppose we believe that certain people are lazy. As we observe what they do, whenever they are late, make a mistake, or do not measure up, our brain uses that as confirmation that these people are lazy. Yet, every time they do something well, our brain does not notice. We see them as we think they are. This is unconscious behavior, but being aware that this happens within us and others can help us understand why we do not always agree on things. 

But Scripture offers us hope. Through the Holy Spirit, we can develop the courage to confess, the humility to learn, and the strength to change. We can regularly and honestly examine our lives in the light of God’s Word. Psalm 139:23-24 says, “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Our goal is to please God, not to impress people. When our focus is on genuine obedience stemming from a love for God, accountability and responsibility become tools for growth, not systems to be manipulated to our advantage.

We cannot do this with our own strength. The Holy Spirit empowers us to live lives of integrity and responsibility. Galatians 5:16 says, “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh." Pray for His guidance, His conviction, and His strength to do what is right.

While we are accountable for our choices, we also serve a God of infinite grace and mercy. When we stumble, and we will, His forgiveness is available when we repent, or change our thinking, and turn back to Him. This grace does not negate our responsibility; it empowers us to live up to it.

It is my prayer that we stand willingly before God’s mirror and take ownership of our actions and lives. I pray that we will carry our own load, confess our faults, grow from our mistakes, and live each day with the awareness that we are accountable to God. Let us look honestly at ourselves, pray for the grace to take personal responsibility for our choices, pray for the humility to seek forgiveness, and for the courage to live with integrity – so that our lives may honor Christ and bless those around us.