God created man to be in relationship with one another on earth. We will never be able to fulfill His will in our lives if we live alone without any relationship with another, whether friendship, marriage, or even simply family.
One of the most important and valuable things that having a close and healthy relationship brings is accountability. When we have trustworthy friends acting as our accountability partners, we will have something that's very invaluable to our Christian walk.
But why is it important to have an accountability partner in our lives? Can't we just walk with God alone?
Let's talk about that.
A God-ordained blessing
God Himself designed relationships. He knew that it's not good for man to be alone, and so He created another person to be with the first man.
God at the time instituted marriage. At the same time He established something we should all value: relationship.
Godly, healthy relationships help us walk uprightly before God. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 tells us just how precious this is:
"Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken."
See, a reliable friend can help us all stay up and strong against temptation and persecution, and can help us get up when we're down.
Moreover, an accountability partner brings more blessings to our lives.
1) Someone to share burdens with
It's always good to have someone to help you carry your load. The days are evil, and so we must find ways to help one another stand strong and steady with Christ (see Ephesians 5:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:11)
2) Someone to ask prayers from
Did you know that confessing sin or struggles to an accountability partner greatly helps in our walk towards total freedom and healing? James 5:16 tells us,
"Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much."
3) Someone to help us walk right before God
An accountability partner will be very helpful in living a clean, righteous life before God.
Trustworthy accountability partners are the best people to talk to about problems, sins, and temptations as they occur. Of course, accountability partners can and will never ever replace God in our lives, but they will help us by allowing light to shine in our dark moments:
"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light." (Ephesians 5:11-13)
Light drives away darkness. If we have an accountability partner to whom we can open up our darkest secrets, we'll find healing and freedom in that area. We'll also find grace to overcome them.
In closing
Friends, accountability partners are very helpful in our lives. In fact, they're priceless and will always be a blessing to us. Just make sure to get an accountability partner of the same sex.
