Ability, Responsibility, and Accountability

One of the recent college football scandals caused a trememdous response on a local talk radio show. Many comments were made, but those of a young Marine stood out. His comment was pointed, “One thing I learned as a young Marine was accountability. There is a vast difference between responsibility and accountability. I was accountable to my fellow soldiers, my sergeant, and my country.” Wow! This young man said more in a few sentences than the other callers and hosts had said in hours. Can you imagine what kind of team you would have if every member took this to heart?

We all have ability that is God given. One famous self-promoter describes himself with the phrase, “Talent on loan from God.” You can be the judge of whether he has much or not, but we all have “talent on loan from God,” – i.e. ability. Some have more than others. The parable of the talents shows this with an illustration of three men. One had one talent, another two and still another, five (Matthew 25:15). Each one was given goods “to each according to his own ability.”(vs.15). While some wrongly boast of their ability, we should all be realistic and admit our abilities. Too many are like the one talent man, hiding the talent that he was given (Matthew 25:18). Fear of failure is no good excuse for one not using the ability that God has given. Under the guise of humility, some fail miserably in using their ability.

Each of these men was given a responsibility in keeping with their ability. They were stewards and thus responsible for taking the master’s money and using it to produce what they could. Responsibility always comes with ability. Notice our Lord’s statement in Luke 12:48, “But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.” In the home, the church, and society, we are responsible for doing our part. This was shown pointedly to the early church regarding their responsibility to give of their means, “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him” (1 Cor. 16:2). The results of this principle put into practice is shown in 2 Cor. 8:15, “As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.” When all accept their responsibility, the need is always met.

But the part that is often left out in this is accountability. Joseph realized his accountability when he refused to lie with his Masters wife, saying, “…Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. 9There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” He was accountable to his master who had put him in a place of great responsibility. We are accountable to our fellow man for our actions toward him. But above that, we are accountable to the almighty God who made us.

One does not have to admit his ability and can put all of the work on others. He may not take his responsibilities seriously. He can even deny responsibility toward his wife and children, his brethren, and live a carefree life. But being unwilling to be accountable will not prevent us from facing the ultimate and final act of accountability- Paul said, “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” (Romans 14:12).
David Courington