The 3 Keys To Accountability
by Dan Jones, M.D.
Joshua 24:24-27
And the people said to Joshua, "We will serve the LORD our God and obey him."
On that day Joshua made a covenant for the people, and there at Shechem he drew up for them decrees and laws. And Joshua recorded these things in the Book of the Law of God. Then he took a large stone and set it up there under the oak near the holy place of the LORD .
"See!" he said to all the people. "This stone will be a witness against us. It has heard all the words the LORD has said to us. It will be a witness against you if you are untrue to your God."
Accountability is a familiar concept to health professionals. It is a part of our daily professional life. In school, we are given examinations. To receive our license, we have to pass an examination and meet certain standards. Many of us seek certification from some specialty board. We work in hospitals and clinics that must meet the standards of some accrediting body. We understand accountability in our professional lives.
What about our spiritual lives? Are we just as accountable spiritually? In these last words from Joshua to the people of Israel, we see him describe a process of accountability. The people have just declared their commitment to a relationship with God. Joshua wrote down their promise, and then set a stone for a lasting visible memorial to that promise.
As Christian health professionals, we need accountability in our spiritual lives, just as we do in our professional lives. How, then, do we go about seeking that accountability? For me, there have been three primary mechanisms.
First, in every community where we have lived, our family has become a member of a local church congregation. Participating as a church member and leader provides me with a very structured mechanism for accountability. As a member of a church, there are standards for my conduct, expectations regarding financial giving, and participation in worship and service activities.
Secondly, in the workplace, I have tried to openly acknowledge my faith-based life. This acknowledgment tells others that I am a Christian and they should expect me to live by Christian standards. These standards should extend to relationships in the workplace, ethics in my business dealings, and honesty in all matters.
Lastly, I have attempted to cultivate close Christian friendships. Part of the expectation in this close friendship is accountability. I am able to let my guard down and let my deepest thoughts come out. And these friends are able to frankly tell me when my thoughts and behavior are not consistent with what Christ would want for my life. A great joy in these relationships is the confirmation we can receive when we are seeking to make a difficult decision and are seeking God's will.
Lord, help me be faithful to my commitment to you. Thank you for providing opportunities for accountability in my spiritual life.
Dan Jones, M.D., MACP, FAHA, a board-certified Internist, a former medical missionary to Korea, professor of medicine at the University of Mississippi School of Medicine, Dean of the School of Medicine, and Chancellor of the University of Mississippi until 2015. Dr. Dan Jones is a member of CMDA.
Dr. Jones welcomes any comments or questions about what he has written and can be reached at - djones@umc.edu
Rounds with the Master, Spiritual Pearls from the Great Physician Devotionals are released every Monday and Thursday.
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