“Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my [thoughts, KJV]; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Ps 139:23-24).
Being accountable to the Lord is vital for every serious Christian. Even a little fudging on the accounts can lead to spiritual bankruptcy. Barings, Britain’s oldest bank, announced it’s bankrupt condition in 1995 due to the stock gambles of one Singapore trader. As Time reported the story, “London allowed [the trader] to take control of both the trading desk and the backroom settlement operation in Singapore. It is a mix that can be—and in this case was—toxic…For a trader to keep his own books is like a schoolboy getting to grade his own tests; the temptation to cheat can be overwhelming, particularly if the stakes are high enough.”
God is gracious, patient, and forgiving. He rewards honest confession with immediate cleansing. He also offers power enough, through the Spirit, to live in victory.