Some time ago, I found myself in a place of waiting. I needed to make an important decision, and honestly, I thought I already knew what to do. Things around me even seemed to be aligning with my conclusion. I had prayed. I had waited. I was convinced I had heard God. In my mind, the matter was settled.
But there was one issue. The elders around me, unfortunately, had not yet spoken.
The Pressure of Time and Self-Confidence
Yes, at the time, it felt unfortunate.
Time was ticking. A deadline was approaching. The opportunity looked too important to miss. I kept asking myself, how long will I keep waiting? Surely, I am old enough to know what is good for me. Surely, I can take responsibility for my own decisions.
Those thoughts crept in quietly, especially one morning as I stood brushing my teeth. You know those moments. You are no longer a teenager. You have ideas. You feel capable. And suddenly, the voices of older men and women can begin to sound slow, cautious, or out of touch.
A Timely Check from the Holy Spirit
Thank God for the Holy Spirit, who does not stay silent in moments like that.
Almost immediately, a gentle but firm reminder came to my heart. This is your safety. If God and the elders He has placed around you are all involved, then the responsibility and the outcome are shared.
That response stopped me.
The Wisdom of the Thread in the Needle
Then I remembered a local proverb that says “it is a needle without a thread that gets lost easily”. It is those who have no one to answer to that easily go astray. As I reflected, I noticed a pattern in Scripture and even in our own time. Men and women who finished well usually had a thread in their needle. They were accountable. They were guided. They were willing to submit.
I quickly repented of my earlier thoughts and thanked God for the wisdom of accountability.
What Accountability Really Means
Accountability is simple, though not always comfortable. It means being answerable to someone else. It means allowing another person to guide, question, and speak into your decisions. It is choosing not to live independently, even when you feel capable. It is having an idea, yet willingly laying down your right to make the final call.
Think of an accountant. He handles money, but it is not his. He receives instructions, keeps clear records, and gives a report. Accountability works the same way. Our lives, choices, and opportunities are entrusted to us, but they are not ours alone.
Biblical Pictures of Accountability That Paid Off
Scripture gives us clear examples of people who embraced accountability and were preserved by it.
Ruth submitted herself to the counsel of her mother-in-law, Naomi. She followed instructions she may not have fully understood, and that posture of humility placed her directly in God’s redemptive plan. Her obedience led her into marriage with Boaz and into the lineage of Jesus Christ, as we see in Ruth 3 and Matthew 1.
David, though anointed king, remained accountable to the prophet Nathan. When he sinned, Nathan confronted him. David listened, repented, and was restored. That willingness to be corrected preserved his relationship with God and kept his heart tender, as we see in 2 Samuel 12.
Even Jesus, in His earthly walk, submitted to the Father and lived under divine authority. He said He did only what He saw the Father doing. That submission led to the salvation of many, as recorded in John 5:19.
Strength, Not Weakness
This is a virtue you and I must keep growing in. First, we remain accountable to God. Then, we remain accountable to the people He places around us.
Many see this as a weakness. In truth, it is wisdom. It is maturity. Strong people invite counsel. Wise people allow correction. Safe people do not walk alone.
A Personal Prayer
My prayer is simple. May I never arrive at a point where I feel I no longer need guidance. May I never grow too confident to receive input. May I remain accountable.
Scripture puts it plainly. Where there is no wise guidance, people fall. But in the multitude of counsellors, there is safety (Proverbs 11:14).
Jesus also captured this truth when He spoke about maturity. When you were young, you went wherever you wanted. But as you grow, another helps and guides your steps (John 21:18).
May the Lord grant us wisdom and the grace to stay accountable.