Individual Responsibility and Accountability

by Paul McGuire

Individual responsibility and accountability. In attitude and action, these three words must be practiced in order to have a free and ordered society. These principles represent a frame of mind. Why bring this up here?

Well, I am addressing men. The basic societal unit is the family, in God’s design, and the man is designated as the head of the family. He is the individual who, before God and his neighbors, is held responsible and to an accountability for his family.

These words represent no new idea, but currently our society suffers because these principles are not practically and universally followed. Historically, the practice of taking individual responsibility and accountability has kept our families and our Nation strong—certainly stronger than right now!

In the history of Man, Satan has assaulted the God-appointed role of men. In the Garden, he approached Eve, rather than Adam. She was deceived into taking a role that was not her own. Yes, Adam messed up. Adam is our “father” in sin. As born-again men, Jesus is our “father” in righteousness. In Him, we are restored to the roles God designed for us—if we will take the steps to get there. Our old sin-nature tends to make us lazy, and consequently, not in want of being the head of the family, as God has appointed. Failure to take this lead, I assert, has brought us to the tragic crisis-time we now face.

I present my words here as a challenge to our homes and our Nation. I am no longer a young man. Would I have understood the importance of these three words when I was young?

I will start where I am now. Will you?

Success will require self-discipline.

The Apostle Paul eloquently addressed this critical need to the church at Galatia: “For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love...So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves” (Galatians 5:13-16 NLT).

To this point, our old sin-nature has led us down a path of failure. Only God can redeem the past, and with His

supernatural help, we can begin to walk out what He has placed within us. We can lead our families in His ways, by His design.

One day we will stand before the Lord. We will stand as individuals. We will be held responsible for our choices. We will be accountable to Him. Praise God that the blood of Jesus covers our sins! I want to be found faithful—to have done what I could do for my family, my neighbors, and my Nation—by His design, wherever God has placed me.

How about you?

About The Author Paul McGuire has been born again for almost 60 years, and has pursued to hear God’s Voice through all those years. He and his wife Teresa of 45+ years are active at Living Word Church in Cleveland, Tennessee. They have two children and four-and-counting grandchildren.