Biblical Accountability for Business LeadersSample

We Are All Stewards

Our Creator God owns the universe and everything in it. As His image-bearers, we have both the privilege and responsibility to care for the earth and develop its potential. This is the essence of stewardship, which forms the basis for our accountability. Our time, talents, and treasures belong to God, and one day we will give an account to Him for how we managed them for His glory (Romans 14:12, 2 Corinthians 5:10). Accountability involves continuously allowing our decisions to be measured against biblical standards and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, with the ultimate goal of worshiping God, to whom we are ultimately accountable.

As business leaders, the way we steward our resources, talents and network impacts society and shapes our futures, so we need to take accountability seriously. Our human nature, however, has us behaving like owners – free to do as we please – rather than stewards who are glad to obey the Owner of all things. This desire for control, instead of surrendering to God, is the same sin that entered Eden when Adam and Eve disobeyed God. No part of creation has been left untouched by their rebellion. The bad news is that the earth no longer fully cooperates with our plan to develop it as God intended. The human heart is now also corrupt, and focuses its worship on self and other created things. The desire to honour God as faithful stewards has been replaced by an illusion of ownership and a never-ending appetite for self-gratification (Romans 1:21, 25). The good news, though, is that Jesus' death and resurrection provide a way for us to be restored to God's original plan of faithful stewardship! The New Testament envisions a Christian life where brothers and sisters walk together in transparency and accountability (John 3:20–21).

However, living a righteous life on our own is not possible. The temptation to follow our own desires can be overwhelming, and sometimes we may not even realise we’re drifting in the wrong direction. Worshiping God in a community of faith helps us rely on fellow believers for discernment. We remind each other that everything we have and are belongs to God. Accountability isn't optional; it's the very essence of stewardship. A CEO doesn’t choose to give an account of the state of the business to her board of directors and shareholders. She’s expected to do this because she’s a steward of the business, not its owner. We too are expected to be accountable. Within a biblical worldview, being accountable to God through fellow believers is simply part of the Christian life.

Resisting accountability comes at a high price for us, those around us, and society as a whole. When we act as if we are untouchable and answerable to no one, we fail to show love to God and others. May we humbly and gratefully embrace the biblical teachings of stewardship and accountability, knowing that we serve a good, gracious and generous Father who always has our best interests at heart.