Accountability

Listened to Dr. Charles Stanley this morning on In Touch. Came on at 8-9 CST. Also comes on 7-8 CST on another station (cable tv)

He talked of accountability. This is something none of us likes. We don't want to have to answer to anyone else for our speech and our actions, yet if we avoid this we will be demanding others to stay out of our business. We will also be displaying an attitude that no one has the right to tell us what to do. Yet accountability is not exactly allowing someone else to tell us what to do.

Really! What it really does is help us to consider other people's feelings and needs before we make a decision. This is as it should be in a marriage, between two good friends, or just between parents and their children. No ruler of a country would think of starting war with another without first sitting down with a group of advisers or cabinet members and discussing the nuts and bolts of it. Why do we think we should be able to make decisions without discussing our intentions with someone else?

When a married couple sits down before either spouse makes a decision, this is not saying "Let me tell you what to do." This should be saying "Here's what I want to do and I want to know if it will hurt you in any way." When parents tell children where to go and/or when to come back, they are really saying, "I love you guys and I need to know where you are at all times in case something happens and I need to get in touch with you." or "I set a time for you to come home because I believe it will provide a measure of safety to you and if you don't come home by that time, then I'll know something's wrong and I'll work to find you fast."

Bottom Line? Be considerate of the people in your life and take on an attitude of:
I'm wanting to do this, or go someplace, but I want to know what you think about it before I make my final decision.

Just think of the problems being accountable to someone could save us.