Fussin' and feudin' series - accountability

This has been a pretty tumultuous study so far, no? We've had loan sharks and victims, conversations and confrontations, and more. We've studied how to resolve conflicts biblically. Today we'll talk about accountability.
Now there's a word that has swept Christian circles in recent years.
Accountability.
What exactly do we mean?
Many believers seek accountability partners. A friend or acquaintance who can encourage us, teach us, rejoice and weep with us. We can pray, talk, confide, and confess. Many Christians are helped by having the checks and balances that an accountability partner provides.
We are all ultimately accountable to God; another believer friend can provide the support we need to reach godly goals. Romans 14 lays out some wonderful guidelines that accountability partners or prayer partners can use to help each other.
Here is what John Piper says in a sermon that I read:

Ultimately, accountability can be a means in which God draws us, through the friendship and fellowship of others, to Himself. Self-sufficiency says we don't need anyone, but humility shouts for help from those God has placed in our lives. (John Piper, Desiring God)

There's something about making our goals audible, talking to someone else about them, that makes it difficult for us to "go back" on what we have said. We are more motivated to follow through. Nehemiah knew that.
So, after confronting the loan sharks biblically and setting a godly personal example, Nehemiah stood back and waited to see what they'd say.
Pretty remarkable!

“We will give it back,” they said. “And we will not demand anything more from them. We will do as you say.” (v 12a)

High fives all around?
Pats on the back?
Uh, no.
Can we all say it together?
Accountability.
Nehemiah is going to use the old "a picture is worth a thousand words" concept here. He knows good and well that we humans are just full to the brim with good intentions. But do all of those good intentions make it into practice? Do we follow through?
Not always. (That's putting it charitably, right?)
First he makes the loan sharks take a public oath -- not just in the sight of the people, but in front of the priests, too (look at verse 12b).  Then he gets dramatic. He channels his inner Prophet of God -- taking his robe in his hands, he shakes it dramatically in front of them and says:

I also shook out the folds of my robe and said, “In this way may God shake out of their house and possessions anyone who does not keep this promise. So may such a person be shaken out and emptied!” (v 13)

This was in the style of the prophets - making it memorable. Making it significant. Making them accountable. Kind of like "Here's a couple thousand witnesses, now you can sign on the dotted line and swear to keep your promise, too." (And you might notice that none of the loan sharks whined. No one said, "Surely you trust us, don't you?")

Leaders in the community of faith need to hold people accountable to their promises before God. We, personally, need to be trustworthy before God when we determine to remove sin from our life, or to make positive change that needs to happen. On a human level, whether it is financial misdeeds or marital infidelity, or simple tale-carrying and gossip, the guilty person needs to re-establish trust. On a level of our relationship with our Father God, we need to establish accountability - that can be through prayer and honest journaling, or with a prayer partner. We need to be people of our word, as the saying used to be.

Do not be quick with your mouth,    do not be hasty in your heart    to utter anything before God.
God is in heaven    and you are on earth,    so let your words be few. (Ecclesiastes 5:2)

If you make a vow to the Lord your God, do not be slow to pay it, for the Lord your God will certainly demand it of you and you will be guilty of sin. 22 But if you refrain from making a vow, you will not be guilty. 23 Whatever your lips utter you must be sure to do, because you made your vow freely to the Lord your God with your own mouth. (Deuteronomy 23:21-23)

If someone asks you to be an accountability partner, pray carefully and consider thoughtfully. You may each be an instrument to draw the other closer to Him.

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:24-25)

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. 4 Each one should test their own actions. (Galatians 6:1-4a)