The power of faithful accountability
In the 18th century, a group of committed Christians started a small group at the University of Oxford. Critics of the group called them the “Holy Club” because of their dedication to holy living. Each week, they met for Bible study, prayer, and accountability. They would ask and answer questions like, “Do I give the Bible time to speak to me every day?”, “Am I defeated in any part of my life?”, “Is Christ real to me?”, “When did I last speak to someone else about my faith?”, and “Can I be trusted?” They were committed to helping each other remain faithful.
What accountability really means
Accountability is often misunderstood. When some people hear the word “accountability,” they picture someone imposing his or her religious standards on someone else. When others hear the word, they think of someone pointing out another person’s moral shortcomings and flaws. Neither of those is accurate. Accountability is really about helping people keep their commitments to God.
Why we can’t walk alone
A life without accountability can easily slide off course. People who experience moral failure will often come to their senses and wonder how they drifted so far from where they intended to be. The fact is, you have an enemy who actively seeks to wreck your life and ruin your testimony (1 Peter 5.8 ESV). You can’t passively sit by while he works. By surrounding yourself with a few faithful friends and being honest with them, you’re doing your part to keep the enemy at bay.
Accountability protects your heart
Hebrews 3.13 NLT says, “You must warn each other every day, while it is still ‘today,’ so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God.” If you haven’t surrounded yourself with people who have permission to ask hard questions and demand honest answers, it’s possible to deceive yourself into thinking that you’re really okay, even when you’re not. Accountability is an antidote to a hard heart and helps in times of frustration and temptation. No one is exempt from these struggles. That’s why you need accountability.
Who is sharpening you?
What difference would it make if you invited someone to hold you accountable? King Solomon wrote, “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend” Proverbs 27.17 NLT. Who is sharpening you? Who are you sharpening? Who is helping you keep your commitments to God? Everybody needs somebody to help them remain faithful to things that God has put on their heart.
Make your Grow Group a place for honest accountability
Your “Grow Group” is a great place to develop healthy accountability. In your group, there will be a natural sense of accountability for your daily readings and Scripture memory. Beyond that, however, make it a point to ask each other hard questions and demand honest answers. Your group should be a safe place to admit your struggles and allow other people to share burdens (Galatians 6.12 ESV). Including a time of accountability is essential if you want to see spiritual growth and develop godly character.
This blog features an excerpt from one of our Student Series books, Invest In A Few.
