Re:Verse reading— 1 Samuel 20:1-17, 30-42 (day five)
“What have I done? What is my iniquity? And what is my sin before your father, that he is seeking my life?”1 Samuel 20:1
I believe that David knew the answers to the questions, but he wanted/trusted Jonathan to tell him the truth. He lived in accountability with Jonathan. Who do you trust to enough to ask the hard questions of you? (money, motives, purity, honesty, sin, temptation) Who hears your completely honest responses? Just the Lord? Is that a conversation that only happens in your prayer closet? A mentor? A close friend of the same gender? A spouse? A parent? There’s something humbling and freeing about hearing your own voice ask and answer the questions. Humility and freedom- two qualities of a heart that belongs to God. Accountability is a part of God’s provision for discipleship and holiness. Will you look for a “trusted truth-teller”? Will you ask and answer the tough questions with them?
God is opposed to the proud, but he gives grace to the humble. Pride and humility are in the opposite end to one another. From my perspective, pride is a contributing factor to our blind spots. It guards us from receiving valuable instruction and hinders our genuine growth and development, personally, professionally and spiritually.
Real humility is found in one’s heart. It is a turning away from self. We, human beings, can’t truly succeed in our own strength but do need God’s help. With humility, we recognize the need for God in our lives.
For further reading on humility, please read, What Humility Isn’t? http://www.thedivinemercy.org/news/What-Humility-Isnt-2222
So what is about accountability? It is simply being responsible for our actions. Pride inhibits learning and growth in general. In spiritual life, in my view, having real humility and accountability of our actions, thoughts and behaviors will help us, believers, realize our weaknesses, spiritual sins, help facilitate our desire for true repentance, and to reach spiritual maturity. Accountability and humility are essential ingredients in leadership and in our walk with Christ. They go hand-in-hand.
I was reminded of this quote, “It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels.”~~Saint Augustine
So shall we add humility to wherever we travel and whatever we do? I thought humility is the beginning of wisdom. What will you add to your daily living or to have the desire to eliminate from your daily living?