Wings of Eagles

Accountability

As men, we carry our pride like a badge of honor.  We use it for a shield against anything that might threaten our self-esteem.  We hide behind it when other people attempt to offer suggestions which, if followed, would require us to change our courses in life.  We know better than anyone else what is best for ourselves.  After all, we managed to bring ourselves to this place in life where we are.  And we will do a fine job of going on the next step. 

Therein lays one of the greatest problems that men who are addicted to pornography/sexual impurity face.  Because they believe that they know what is best for them, and because they do not want anyone violating their manhood by telling them what to do, they continue blindly down the same road of destruction that brought them to the place where they are.  That place may be one where, because of his pornography/sexual addiction, his marriage has fallen apart, his financial situation has deteriorated, and worst of all, his spiritual relationship with God has all but disappeared.

It is crucial that men come to the understanding that they cannot fight this battle alone.  Perhaps you are one who considers himself to be a "self-made man," one who has fought his way up the corporate ladder - only to find that you were the only one there when you arrived.  If you are a pornography/sexual impurity addict, you should consider that by yourself, you managed to crawl all the way to where you are.  In the world of pornography/sexual impurity addiction, the ladder goes down, not up.  It goes straight down into a pit that has the ability to totally consume us.

Accountability is often discounted as nothing more than a crutch, a place to hide one's own inadequacies.  Objections to accountability are usually rooted in pride - that same pride that says you don't need help.  God takes a different view, though.

Proverbs 27:17 -- "As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend."

Ecclesiastes 4:11-12 -- "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."

Admitting the need for accountability is not surrendering our manliness.  It is not the sign of a weak person.  It is not a crutch that might allow one to think he can walk without assistance when in fact, he can't.  Instead, it is the sign of a man who is big enough to admit that he cannot do everything.  Accountability is one of the most powerful weapons we have in the battle against pornography/sexual addiction.  The use of that weapon allows us to admit to our accountability partner that we have come against something that, at least for a moment is more powerful than we are.  It allows us to admit that we need help to fight that enemy, but in a way that brings no reproach. 

I am willing to be an accountability partner if:

1.      You will check in with me every morning or evening or when you are thinking of acting out.

2.      You are open and honest (starting with spouse).

3.      You do not hide anything.

4.      You are willing to make a change in your life.

5.      You really do want to overcome pornography/sexual addiction in your life.

6.      You are willing to let Jesus Christ take control of your life.

 

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