I blew it. I made a wrong choice. I violated my commitment to my recovery journey. Of course I confessed my sin to God and received His forgiveness. But part of my repentance and restoration required my willingness to confess to my accountability partner.
My confession was costly to both he and his wife. He took time to listen to and encourage me. She made time to adjust my computer accountability software.
I was filled with shame, guilt, remorse. I knew my sin had not only hurt me, it had also hurt my two friends. Their choice to walk with me had once again exposed them to the rawer side of my journey. In spite of the ugliness I had to confess to them, this was their email response:
“We’re in this with you…. Know that we love you and want to help.”
They’ve made sacrifices and have gotten their hands dirty on my behalf. They’ve never stood off at the side, shaking their fingers at me, and saying “Now Mark, you know better….”
Their love reminds me of a scripture that we probably need to apply more liberally in our lives.
Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor:
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…
Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
I grew up in a church that did not practice the “two are better than one” principle. The pastor was adamant in his teaching; “if you have a problem, don’t call the pastor. Talk to the Lord.” The most personal prayer requests shared were for “Aunt Suzie’s in-grown toe nail”. (Not that God doesn’t care about Aunt Suzie’s in-grown toe nail!)
A well-known radio preacher recently commented: “I confess my sins to God; my faults to my friends.” But when I looked up those two words in my concordance, I found that they both mean “sin”.
Yes, we absolutely do need to confess our sins and problems to the Lord. But scripture shows that He also expects us to build trusted relationships which allow us to be honest about our faults, our failures, and our sins to one another.
God is the One who says
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. (James 5: 16NIV)
It’s been a while since I made the particular sinful choice that I referred to. Had I not confessed to my friend, I would have repeated that choice, many times since. But having “two are better than one” friendships has made my getting back up, and staying up, possible.
How many of us have true “two are better than one” friendships? Have we invested the time so that we know who we can share the hidden sorrows, battles and joys of our hearts with? Do we have friends who will walk alongside of us in our struggles? Who will help us if we do fall? Are we also being that kind of friend to others?
How have you seen “two are better than one” friendships make a difference in your life?
Read Part 2: God said “Let Me take care of you.”
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