Accountability

“The people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.” Jdg 17:6 NLT

You’re never more vulnerable than when you can hide from others. Secrecy is the ideal breeding ground for deception, leading us into sin. Jesus points out that we love darkness rather than light because our deeds naturally gravitate toward evil (See Jn 3:19). There is within us a propensity to sin, so we are called to “walk in the light” where our motives and actions are transparent and we are encouraged to avoid sin (See 1Jn 1:7). But to walk in the light and overcome sin requires people who will hold us accountable. “Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others” (Pr 12:15 NLT). Our need for approval makes us want to hide our struggles.

However, our willingness to be genuine frees us to acknowledge our struggles and overcome them. But the person to whom you are accountable should be mature, know God’s Word, keep your confidence, and love you enough to be honest with you. And you need to be open to hear what they tell you. King Rehoboam “rejected the advice of the older men and instead asked the opinion of the young men who had grown up with him” (1Ki 12:8 NLT). He wanted to hear only what pleased him. So he turned to his equally immature friends who told him what he wanted to hear, leading him to a decision that caused a major rebellion in Israel. So build a relationship with someone who’ll tell you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear!