We are all called to give an account for our lives. It would make things easier if we started now with someone.

⁵ The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters,
    but one who has insight draws them out.

I see this verse working two ways:

1. A person can look inside himself and, with the help of the Holy Spirit, draw insight and understanding about himself.
2. A person can avail himself to another person, one he can trust, who can help him determine what is in his heart and what to do about it–according to the Spirit.

The need for someone to whom we are accountable is based upon verse 9:

⁹ Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure;
    I am clean and without sin”?

We can justify anything. When we can’t justify what we want, we blatantly do what we want, anyway. DESIRE is just too strong an opponent. Eve had the same problem:

⁶ When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food [it looked delicious] and pleasing to the eye [sparkly and shiny], and also desirable for gaining wisdom [would make her like God-see verse 5], she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

What should have happened is that Adam should have reached over and knocked it from her hand. If she ate it before he could do that, then he should have counseled her to go before the LORD and confess what she had done. Instead, he allowed her to drag him down with her. Evidently the DESIRE was too great to overcome for him, too.

ON our own, we cannot overcome DESIRE. We need HELP. That help comes from the Holy Spirit. His Spirit in us gives us everything we need for godly living (see Heb. 13:20-21 and 2 Peter 1:3). At the same time, we sometimes need “God with skin on.” We need someone in whom we can trust and with whom we can share our weaknesses and burdens. Then, going to the Word of God, we approach the throne of grace and receive mercy and grace in our time of need (Heb. 4:16).

FOREWARNED IS FOREARMED.

PREPARATION IS 90% OF THE BATTLE.

Back in the 90’s, Promise Keepers was a great vehicle for accountability among men. They set up groups of four to six that met weekly for accountability and Bible study. Many good things came out of those groups.

Whether it’s one-on-one or in a group of 4-6, you might consider either forming or joining an accountability group. Solomon, the wisest man on earth, said,

⁹ Two are better than one,
    because they have a good return for their labor:
¹⁰ If either of them falls down,
    one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
    and has no one to help them up.
¹¹ Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
    But how can one keep warm alone?
¹² Though one may be overpowered,
    two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

I know this: It’s impossible to get a sound check by yourself. I also know that it’s impossible to live a perfectly righteous life without an objective opinion. I need accountability. So do you. Ask the LORD who He has in mind for you.

Abba, I thank You that Robin is my accountability partner. She holds my spiritual feet to Your fire. I also thank You for the men in my life who love me and ask me the hard questions. May I be that person for other men. Help me to pay it forward, Lord. Amen.