Accountability

My friend, Chuck Colson, once wrote from his book, the body: "John Wesley was so concerned with building a righteous fellowship that he devised a series of questions for his followers to ask each other every week. Some found this rigorous system of inquiry too demanding and left. Today, the very idea of such a procedure would horrify many churchgoers. Yet some wisely follow just such a practice. Chuck Swindoll for example, has seven questions that he and a group of fellow pastors challenge each other with periodically:

1. Have you been with a woman anywhere this past week that might be seen as compromising?
2. Have any of your financial dealings lacked integrity?
3. Have you exposed yourself to any sexually explicit material?
4. Have you spent adequate time in Bible study and prayer?
5. Have you given priority time to your family?
6. Have you fulfilled the mandates of your calling?
7. Have you just lied to me?

Some people feel that they have to be held accountable to everyone. This is just not the case. You should only feel obligated to be accountable to those who you sincerely trust. Those that really love you. Those who you feel and believe will love you no matter how far or hard you fall from grace.

Being accountable means you share your weaknesses with someone. Don't advertise your sins but rather share your weakness with someone. Not everyone, just someone. Why Someone? You need someone to ask you some hard questions. Questions like the ones that Church Colson presents above.

It is true that "So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God." However, wouldn't be better if someone you know in the now hold your feet to the fire and keep you honest before you have to meet God regarding the sins that so easily beset you.

There are three areas in which ministers have been tried and tested from the devil. Over the years we have learned much and know how to set boundaries and to place our self under accountability.

For instance, the three areas in which we set accountability are:

1. Purity where the Word of God is concerned
2. Purity where money issues are concerned
3. Purity where sexual relationships are concerned.

For accountability for being pure with the Word, I have several ministers who are well seasoned in the Word who will make sure that I stay focused on Jesus and not get of course in teaching the word.

For accountability regarding money issues we have an outside firm that watches our spending habits and keep us in check if we spend to much on certain issues.

For Purity where sexual relationships are concerned, this is where my wife comes in. My wife does not have to travel with me 35 weeks out the year but I stay accountable to her and she stays accountable me. In other words, most preachers would have kept themselves from sexual sins or the divorce court if they had just kept in each others presence al the time. All the time you say? Well, that's what you got married for isn't it?

Keep in mind that if you are anointed, the devil has just as well put a target on your forehead make sure you fail.

Yes, it is true all men fail, the great ones get back up. However, the best way to keep from failing again is to keep accountable to someone. When keeping accountable tell them, "I am struggling with a certain issue and I need you to ask me and keep me in check." Something like this is so important to maintain a healthy walk with the Lord Jesus in a wicked and evil day.