Being Accountable

We have heard before how important accountability partners are.  They help keep us on the right track, and stay accountable to our goals for the future.  Often a close friend or two are perfect accountability partners.

The Bible has much to say about being accountable to each other and how we are to do it:

Love each other. (John 15:17)

Serve one another in love. (Galatians 5:13)

Be kind and compassionate to one another. (Ephesians 4:32)

Carry each other's burdens. (Galations 6:2)

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other. (James 5:16)

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. (Romans 12:10)

Accept one another. (Romans 15:7)

Encourage one another and build each other up. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

Spur one another on toward love and good deeds. (Hebrews 10:24)

It's not easy though, being accountable is tough.  This means you must tell them not only your items of praise, but your failures.  Gaining the confidence to do this can be tough.

I think more often than not, if you do not stay accountable to certain actions as time goes on these actions become more and more difficult to confess.  The thing is sin can often bring forth awful feelings (you know that deep gut bleh you get).  Is it worth staying tangled in sin rather than confessing it?

It is important to find accountability partners that will encourage you and help you, rather than judge and embarrass you.  As you become more open to your partner, it will become easier to stay on track.  And if you are being approached by a friend or family member, realize the step of faith that they are taking and be kind about the situation they are in, rather than judgmental.

We all have faults---rather than hiding them from each other what if we were honest and helped carry each other's burdens?