POST OF THE DAY

ACCOUNTABILITY

Got any? If not go get an accountability partner. NOW.


"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help pick him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." [Ecclesiastes 4:9-12]

Here are 4 absolutes regarding accountability:

[1] HAVE IT - this is the first and most obvious one cos so many people don't - we run this race by ourselves and when we get tired or weak or fall over, there is no-one nearby to help us to keep going - a lot of big name people in ministry have fallen on their faces this way (linked big time to pride which says 'i can do this by myself' and which, if we remember correctly, "comes before a fall" because they become 'the man' (yes, it does usually seem to be men, sigh) and become untouchable and run this amazing ministry (while everything is going well) but the moment there is temptation and they give in to it, there is no-one close enough to help them and so the fall is usually very huge and very messy... so firstly make sure you have it - if you can't name right now the one or two people who hold you accountable, then you don't have them. It is an intentional thing so you have to go to people and ask them to hold you accountable.

[2] CHOOSE IT CAREFULLY - i love Proverbs 27:6 which says, 'Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses' as that for me IS accountability - when you have somebody you know without a shadow of a doubt love you absolutely (i am so fortunate to be able to have a fair number of those) then you will trust them to hold you accountable and even if they hurt you (cos being told you're in the wrong is not ever something you dig to hear) you know it's done in love and probly for your good... the problem with surrounding yourself with yes people (the verse calls them 'enemies' here) is that all they care about is you digging them and not so much your wellbeing and so they are more likely to pat you on the back and allow/help you walk down the broad path to destruction (while multiplying kisses) just as long as you are friendly and happy towards them.

[3] BE INTENTIONAL - as a Christian i believe that makes me accountable to everybody in the world actually - cos unbelievers are always watching me and have the right to point fingers and say 'hey you're not living what you believe' and all Christians have been given that right too actually... but i have learnt that unless the accountability is intentional and offered, it doesn't mean that much. if i go to someone and say, 'i don't think you should be doing that as a Christian' then they can ignore me or tell me to get lost or call me judgemental or whatever... BUT if that person has asked me to hold them accountable then they have given me permission to step into their life with caution and love and warning and that is the difference - so the accountability exists but unless it is intentional and formally offered to someone, it is of little value.

[4] CHOOSE THE WOUNDER - linking back to point 2, the majority of people in the world seem to hate or shy away from or fear confrontation (yes, my hand is up!) but there are some people who, despite not digging it so much, will value the friendship more than their discomfort and actually show the love of wounding (in the way mentioned in Proverbs) and these are the people you want (need!) holding you accountability - people who will say to me, 'Are you crazy? What do you think you're doing?' and people who will be bold enough to not say, 'um i think it's not so great that you're going out with that girl who is a non-Christian' but rather 'dude, it is wrong for you to be dating that girl - you need to stop!' This is imperative - we need people who will speak hard Truth into our lives with love and who love us so much as to not let us carry on with sin or flirting with temptation or loving the things that God hates. Friends who will ask the hard questions. Friends we can share our biggest struggles with and who can can ride shotgun for us at those times when we know we are most likely to be tempted.


So there ya go.

Go get accountable!

God Bless you!
RK