ACCOUNTABILITY IN RELATIONSHIPS

“Knowing we are in a battle against the forces of darkness, we should want as much help as we can gather around us, and this may include making ourselves accountable to another believer who can encourage us in the fight”- GotQuestions

Management consultant Todd Herman defines personal accountability as being willing to answer …for the outcomes resulting from your choices, behavior and actions. It is taking ownership of our actions and asking the tough questions or being vulnerable with a trusted person in our quest of being better.

We all, at a point have sought the opinion of another, on various issues of life and when life requires us to share our burdens, we always endeavor to open up to people who can truly help us see and decide well.

No man’s an island, as the saying goes and hence we need all the support structure we can get. Hence, it becomes very vital for the need of an accountability partner.

An accountability partner is one with whom we can be vulnerable with, knowing they won’t condemn or throw us out. It is the person we can safely turn to when we mess up, knowing we can open up and receive constructive criticism or encouragement when we need one.

Mind you, an accountability partner does not have it all together. They could be dealing with their own demons within, hence the emphasis is on partnership which says,’ I’m not perfect, neither are you but we are here to help each other become better. I want to trust you with my weakness and I need you to trust you with mine. There are times where we will fall but we won’t stay on the ground whining but we will rise up, throw off the dust of each other and march on’.

In James 5:16a, he reminds us on the need to have an accountability partner or partners; ‘Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another that you may be healed’. Life presents us with many hurdles and burdens so it is only wise that we walk alongside others, with whom we can share these with.

Accountability in relationships would require us to have an ‘open door policy’ with trusted people where we allow them to come into our space to guide, advice or push us to be better. It would require us to lay down our pride and acknowledge our shortcomings in order to be helped. Being accountable to others does not mean we are beyond redemption. It means we care enough to grow and develop to the extent that we are willing to let others in to shake us from our comfort zones.

Having a circle of accountable people makes us wise; Proverbs 13:20 says He who walks with the wise will become wise but the companions of fools will be destroyed. We make wise choices owing to wise counsel from our circle of accountability.

If your desire is to grow and make sound choices, then do not underestimate the need to have someone you can be accountable to. If you have that kind of a circle, continue spurring each other on to good works, making room for true vulnerability and empowering each other.

Proverbs 27:17 “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another”.