Lesson 5: Accountability
Galatians 6:1-5 
1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.
2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
3 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
4 But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor.
5 For each will have to bear his own load.

Most of us will never be able to break our chains of addiction alone. Jesus already knew this about us, which is why He encouraged His disciples to remain together that last night before He was crucified. This is restated in Hebrews 10:24-25.

Our first and primary accountability is to Jesus, because it is only He who can bring us true healing (as we read in the last lesson). But in the book of James we are also told we are to confess our weaknesses to each other – meaning to other believers in Jesus. In James 5:13-20 we read that this form of accountability with another believer has wonderful benefits. In Verse 13, singing with someone cannot help but lift our spirits to Jesus in joy. In Verse 14, the oil here was that culture’s medical treatment, so for us it is seeking the medical help we need. In Verse 15, prayer is the most powerful tool we have available to us, and this is again stated in Verse 16 – the prayer of a righteous person has great power. This is shown to you in Verses 17 and 18, through Elijah’s prayers.


We need to be careful whom we trust with this kind of information. If we trust someone who is not trustworthy and will spread gossip about us to others, it will do great damage to our hearts as we try to heal. Seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit and choose carefully whom you trust, but do find someone you know will honor your struggle and take you to Jesus in prayer. One day, when you have recovered, Jesus will also use you in this way for another person (2 Corinthians 1:3,4) – and you will understand the need for faithfulness as they share their heart with you.

Verse to memorize: James 5:16

Your prayer: Dear Jesus, help me to find a faithful Christian who can help me through this journey of being free of my addiction to (name your addiction), someone whom You can use to encourage me and to remind me constantly to be faithful to You. I ask You for someone who will keep me pointed to You, will help me to stand against temptation when it comes to me, and will help me to get back up if or when I fall back. Thank You, Jesus, for Your gift of this friend.