Bringing Your Relationships Into Focus - Day 3

We continue our devotional series this morning by looking at different ways to share our faith. This devotional comes from a sermon series at Lifechurch.tv based on the book Chazown by Craig Groeschel.

As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17

As you develop relationships with other people, one of the most important types is one whose main function is accountability. We live in a world where most people don’t want to be held accountable for anything. Yet one day we’ll give an account to God for all that we’ve done (or haven’t done). It’s important to find that special person(s) who can hold us accountable and help keep us heading in the right direction.

The Bible says in Isaiah 53:6, “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way...” The Bible calls us sheep because we’re prone to wander. That’s why it’s valuable to have others help keep us on track. Two lies that many people believe are I can do it myself, and This is just the way I am. The truth is, we were not created to do it by ourselves, and God is never fi nished with us. We must embrace the truth that, without accountability, we’re vulnerable. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says, “Two are better than one because they have a good return for their work. If one falls down his friend can help him up. I pity the one who falls and has no one to help him up.” The phrase “help him up” comes from the Hebrew word quwm. It means “to lift again, to hold up, to raise, to make stand, to stir up or strengthen, or to help succeed.” Ecclesiastes 4:12 says, “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

I view accountability a lot like insurance. In case I’m involved in an accident, I pay insurance in advance for my car, so that everything will be covered. Accountability, to me, is preventative insurance. It keeps me from getting into an accident. If you’re seeking an accountability partner, ask God to reveal the right person (or people) to you. Look for someone you respect and who is willing to speak the truth to you. Use common sense in choosing appropriate partners. For example, if you’re trying to overcome lust, don’t seek a hot accountability partner of the opposite sex. Also, I suggest you make an agreement to meet regularly as a time to expose all your weaknesses, express all your goals, pray aggressively and, importantly, keep everything confidential.


The following guidelines will help produce effective accountability meetings:
1. Agree to ask the hard questions.
Some accountability meetings turn into a social time rather than a spiritual developing time. When one of you does sin or stray, confess immediately and fully. I suggest you not wait until the next scheduled meeting. Get on the phone or email, and confess as soon as possible.

2. Penalize failures.
If failure occurs in an area where you’ve requested accountability, make it cost something. I heard of two accountability partners who were seeking God to help them overcome a pornography problem. They both agreed that anytime they slipped, they’d give $100 above their tithe to God’s work through the church. These guys were able to become victorious! Had they simply fallen, confessed, and agreed to try harder next time, they may never have succeeded. Falling into sin will cost you “big time” in the long run. Why not experience a small, more controlled cost early on, and eliminate the bigger, uncontrolled cost in the future?

3. Help your accountability partner to do the right thing.
Don’t allow tolerance to override truth. Confess not only to each other, but also to God. The Greek word for confess means to acknowledge (sin)—that is, to agree with God (regarding sin). Then, thank Him for His forgiveness. Pray together, asking the Holy Spirit to fi ll and empower you to resist the enemy. James 4:7 says it this way: “Submit yourselves , then, to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. In my life, I have accountability in many areas. I have accountability on my computer as insurance just to ensure I don’t visit any site that would be questionable in nature. Every click I make on the internet is monitored by one of my accountability partners. I also have a person who holds me accountable financially. With an entrepreneurial mind, I like to get involved in different business investments. The problem is, that’s not what God called me to do. Business investments can be a distraction from my greater investment, which is ministry. My financial accountability partner keeps me focused on a long-term systematic investment plan which does not distract from the more important
opportunities.

You may be able to find one accountability partner who can help you in all areas. I have found it valuable to have different people hold me accountable for the areas where they are strong and passionate. If you don’t have accountability in your life, ask the Spirit of God to lead you to the right accountability relationship(s).


Next Steps for Today:

• One of the most important ingredients in your relaitonships is accountability. In what areas do you need to be held accountable?
• Make a list of your points of vulnerability.
• Make a list of your goals.
• Ask God to show you the right person (or people) to develop an accountability relationship with.

Prayer for Today:
Lord, please empower me to become the person you’ve created me to be. Show me the right people to hold me accountable to know You, to live for You, and to honor You, in all that I do.