Keep Short Accounts With God

You may be familiar with the phrase "keep short accounts." The expression is said to have originated with shopkeepers and their accounting process with patrons. The shop owner would allow local customers to "run a tab" with the understanding that the debt would be settled sooner rather than later! Thus, keeping accounts short meant paying off charges quickly instead of allowing them to accumulate and potentially incur interest and fees.

Although we have more sophisticated methods of repaying balances, the principle still holds. The importance of keeping short accounts is still financially wise. However, it is also spiritually wise.

We often miss the mark and cross the boundaries of God's Word. When we trespass like this, we sin and offend our Holy God. As a result, our fellowship with the Lord is impacted, and our spiritual walk stagnates. The only way forward is through His forgiveness and our sincere confession. Therefore, we want to be honest about our sins and confess immediately. Failing to do so will only prolong our stupidity and make us susceptible to shame. We must remember that God is faithful to extend His forgiveness, but we must also be honest about our mess.

First John 1:8-10 says, "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us."

When we agree with God and turn our heel on our unhealthy, sinful choices, we will experience a feeling of deliverance and relief from our lapse in judgment and unfaithfulness. Hence, think of "keeping short accounts" as immediately taking your sins to Christ in confession and cleaning the debt of those iniquities.

By God's grace, we can pray like David, saying, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me" (Psalm 51:10).