Back in January of this year, baseball fans were shocked to hear that four-time All Star and 2010 American League MVP Josh Hamilton had gone on a drinking binge in a Dallas bar.  You may recall that drugs and alcohol had kept Hamilton out of baseball for a four-year period. He had publicly credited his faith in Jesus with helping him overcome these addictions.

Soon it became apparent that one of the main reasons for this relapse was the departure of Hamilton’s accountability partner from the Texas Rangers to the Milwaukee Brewers. Johnny Narron had travelled with the Rangers and watched over Hamilton as a mentor and counselor for the previous four years. Once in January 2009, Hamilton had slipped away from Narron while working out in Phoenix and ended up in a bar where he became severely intoxicated. Realizing how significant it was for Hamilton to have an accountability partner, the Rangers immediately found a replacement in the person of Shayne Kelley.

It should not surprise us to know that the Scriptures stress the importance of accountability for every follower of Jesus. Our first and highest accountability is to God Himself. (Romans 14:12) But we are also called to accountability relationships with others. Here are three examples:

1 Thessalonians 5:11—“Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, just as you are in fact doing.” The Greek word translated “encourage” is parakaleo, which literally means “to come alongside another to help.” Oikodomeo, the Greek word translated “build up” literally refers to building a house. Does this verse not describe accurately what an accountability partner is meant to do—to come alongside us and help us stay on track and build us up?

James 5:16—“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.” This verse acknowledges that in a relationship where there is accountability, there needs to be humility to “fess up” when we slip up. The proper response to such vulnerability is prayer support. The promised result is nothing short of astonishing…Healing!

Hebrews 10:24—“And let us consider how to stir up (provoke) one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another…” Clearly, the purpose of accountability is to spur one another on to be like Jesus. This can only be accomplished by meeting together regularly.

The late Chuck Colson of Prison Fellowship ministries used to meet regularly with a small group of men. At their meetings, they would ask each other the following seven questions:

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?

Notice how these questions demand vulnerability and humility of everyone in the group. Notice also that with such transparency, there is room for confession, prayer support and encouragement. This is a great example of The Accountability Factor at work.

Do you have an accountability partner or group that helps you stay on track? If yes, praise God! If not, perhaps now is the time to seek and find one.

If you are joining us in the 12:12:12 fast beginning tomorrow, may I suggest that you find a partner who will keep you accountable every day? It will dramatically increase your chances of being on track.