Do You Have A Supportive, Spiritual Accountability Relationship?

Do You Have a Supportive, Spiritual Accountability Relationship?

Life is difficult, and living out a vibrant, contagious faith is not easy. I find that parents who do a good job of building a spiritual legacy often have a support and accountability system to help them be more effective as the spiritual leaders of the family.

I am currently involved in a weekly support and accountability group with three other men. When we first started the group, we talked about politics and sports and only briefly mentioned our faith and family issues. One day, one of the group members opened up to tell us he was struggling with his marriage; and from that day on, it has been a much more focused, supportive and deeper-sharing group. I will never forget the day I shared that I felt Cathy’s and my marriage was a bit stagnant. When I left the meeting, one of the men called me on my cell phone and said, “You and Cathy need to get away and get some time together. If it’s finances or babysitting, we’ll take care of it. When can you go?” That’s the kind of support we all need, even if it’s humbling.

Some support and accountability relationships use questions like the ones below to make sure they’re staying on the right track:

• Have you been with a woman/man anywhere this past week that might appear compromising?
• Have any of your financial dealings lacked integrity?
• Have you exposed yourself to any sexually explicit material?
• Have you spent adequate time in Bible study and prayer?
• Have you given priority time to your family?
• Have you fulfilled the mandates of your calling?
• Have you just lied to me?