Shatter: Leave Your Idols BehindSample

Day 4: Finding Accountability

"Find a group of people who challenge and inspire you, spend a lot of time with them, and it will change your life." – Amy Poehler

Life is hard. The beauty of living alongside others is that we can support each other in hardship. The same applies to faith. Deciding to take the next step—no matter how big or small—requires more than our own ability. Thankfully, throughout the Bible, God has intentionally partnered with humanity and made us be in partnership and accountable to one another. For introverts, this does not mean going out and being extroverted. Rather, it means having meaningful relationships no matter the quantity. Let’s look at an instance in the Bible where accountability was necessary.

King David is one of the most important figures in the Old Testament, known best for his victory over the Philistine Giant Goliath using just faith and a slingshot. While King David certainly has some great moments, we will look at one of his greatest failures.

King David, during the time when most kings were out at war, was home at his palace. One day from his rooftop, he saw a beautiful woman named Bathsheba bathing. Bathsheba was the wife of one of the devoted warriors in his army, but this didn’t stop David from being overcome with lust. He had Bathsheba brought to the palace and slept with her, and she became pregnant. When David’s effort to hide his sin (by having Uriah go home to his wife so everyone would think the baby was Uriah’s)didn’t work, David arranged a military operation that sent Uriah and other soldiers to their deaths.

Next, David was visited by the prophet Nathan, who was following God’s instructions to talk to David. Nathan presented a scenario: A traveler comes into a town where a rich and a poor man reside. The poor man has a single lamb he has raised and nurtured and truly loved its whole life. The rich man, on the other hand, has a multitude of sheep. But when the traveler stops at the rich man’s house, the rich man steals the poor man's only lamb instead of killing one of his own to feed his guest!

David, enraged, demanded the rich man should be killed for his actions. That's when Nathan revealed that David was the rich man the scenario was based on. Seeing his decisions in this new light, David realized his mistake affected more people than just him.

Nathan played a key role in David’s life. He stood in front of David (the king and a man known for his faith and dedication to God!) and spoke truth into his sin. This is what accountability looks like. It is a person who speaks truth into our lives, not just endless encouragement. To find someone to hold you accountable, find someone you trust and who is willing to have tough conversations. They can't be afraid to say something you may not like when you need to hear it.

This may sound intense, and at times, it can be, but the beauty of an accountability partner is they can show you where you are missing the mark before you get to the point David did. A small correction is much easier to do than a complete 180°. God has called you on this journey to shatter the things in your life that keep you away from His true purpose, but He does not expect anyone to do this alone. Lean on those who are working alongside you, so no matter what trials come your way, you can overcome them together.

Questions to Consider:

• Who are some people that you feel comfortable having speak into your life? (Examples: Parent, Youth Leader/Pastor, Sibling, Friend)
• Who can you ask to hold you accountable, check in regularly, and call you out when you need it?

Accountability Step:

Make a plan. What are you going to do? If you have an accountability partner, what further step can you take in that relationship? Examples; (Read through a book, open up about something you haven’t shared, or ask for challenges). If you don’t have an accountability partner talk to a Pastor, Youth Leader, or person you trust. If they can be it for you, Great. If not, see if they can recommend you to someone.

Written by Christian