Issues in Life

Accountability

 

 

Do you ever find it tough being a Christian?

 

Are you the only Christian in your team?

 

 

How hard is it to keep on going as a Christian when times are really hard or when you really want to try and be different?  It is so difficult, especially if you are the only Christian in your team.  There have been many times when I have been tempted to give up.

 

Look at these words from the Bible written by Paul.  He was at the end of his life and knew he did not have very long left: 

'I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Now there is in store for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord….will award to me on that final day!’

Paul is thrilled to have made it to the end!  Will we be able to make it to the finish line?  We need to make sure that we get there and so do our friends.  This is what accountability is all about. 

 

1) What is ACCOUNTABILITY?

Paul was absolutely thrilled to have made it to the end of his life and still love God more than anything.  The Bible tells us of some of Paul’s friends who helped him along the way – we can’t live and grow as Christians on our own. 

 

Accountability is having friends around you, like Paul did, who will help you keep going when you feel like giving up or will pull you back in line when you mess up.

 

Whilst watching some friends running in a marathon recently, the supporting team found a prime position to wait for the guys to run past.  We were standing there for about half an hour in the same spot and to our right there was a lady with a piercing horn in her hand and the loudest shrieking voice in the world!  She did not stop shouting and blowing that horn for the whole half hour and, even though it really began to crack me up, what a picture of encouragement that is!  The runners really appreciated it and most gave her a thumbs up, a smile or a wave – this is a picture of accountability.  Good friends spurring us on to make it to the end of our race and not give up!

 

2) Why do we need to be ACCOUNTABLE?

Paul was clear – life as a Christian is not easy but the prize at the end is worth it all.  So get as much help as you can to make it to the finish line!  When we understand this, we have to play our part too.  Hebrews Chapter 10 is clear about our role in continuing in our faith:

'Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.’  V23

This verse is clear that God is faithful and unchanging – we are the ones who need help to keep going in the race and not give up.  That’s why we have to get friends to keep us accountable – we want to make it to the finish line!

 

3) How can we keep each other ACCOUNTABLE?

How do we help each other do this and not be tempted by other things around us?  Hebrews Chapter 10 is clear on what we can do to really help each other.

Verse 24 - ‘spur one another on….’

This is like the changing room at half time when your team is losing and underperforming.  What will the coach do?  Spur the team on, give them the talking to they need to perform better, encourage them in a forceful way.  Sometimes I didn’t like what the coach said to me – he spoke harsh words to me and pulled me into line.  Why? – so that I would perform to the best of my ability and improve my performance.  It was for my own good so that I would reach my goal – it’s the same as we live as Christians!

Verse 25 – ‘don’t give up meeting together....’

Make sure you don’t just see our friends at church or school.  Be disciplined in arranging to see your Christian friend who you are accountable to and make sure it is somewhere were you can be open and honest with them.  Don’t leave it to chance or it will never really happen.  Come on, get into gear and make sure you are regularly meeting up!

Verse 25 – ‘encourage one another....’

Help, support and encourage one another.  I know the impact encouragement has on me when I am playing my sport.  Those times when I was having a horror of a match and a team mate grabbed me and said ‘Come on!  Don’t worry about that.  You can do better!’  It is the belief that they value you as part of the team and believe in you.  Christian friends around us who love us and want to see us in heaven will encourage us when necessary and lift our eyes to Jesus again.

Verse 25 - ‘and all the more as you see the Day approaching.’

We don’t know when Christ will return but verse 25 makes it clear that that time is not far off.  So, we can waste any time!  Let’s make sure we are accountable to good friends who will make sure we reach the end of the race!

 

Remember the pictures of Kelly Holmes in the 2004 Olympics as she crossed the finishing line in the 1,500 m to win her second gold medal of the games – I thought her eyes were actually going to pop out of her head!  She was so thrilled to have completed the race and won the prize that was waiting for her!

 

Let’s get good friends to be accountable to who will spur us on, meet with us and encourage us in our Christian lives so that whenever we reach the finish line of this life, like Kelly Holmes, we will be thrilled with the prize which awaits us!