Growing up my dad loved watching a TV show called Home Improvement with my brother and me. Many of you have seen it, I’m sure. For those that haven’t, I’m going to give you a brief synopsis. It’s about a home improvement TV-show host and his family. Only this home improvement TV host is like Steve Urkel and less like Bob Vila or Chip and Joanna Gaines. He’s constantly doing things badly or creating big catastrophes or accidents for himself and others. On the show he has a neighbor, and his name is Wilson. Anytime Tim, who is the main character played by Tim Allen, has an issue or something that he doesn’t understand, or he has messed up on, he always goes to his backyard. And every time, just over his fence, is Wilson. When the two see one another Tim goes over and attempts to get advice, or to simply discuss what’s going on in his life with his neighbor.
In accountability we always need someone that’s willing to give correction like Wilson Likewise, we need the ability to receive that correction much like Tim does! Whenever I’m on the end of receiving correction, I have to make sure I’m not so quick to make assumptions about what the person is saying, and take the time to slow down and actually identify what they’re telling me.
For instance, in the Bible when Nathan goes to David to confront him. Davids initial response is anger at the rich man.
And the Lord sent Nathan to David. He came to him and said to him, “There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. The rich man had very many flocks and herds, but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. And he brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children. It used to eat of his morsel and drink from his cup and lie in his arms, and it was like a daughter to him. Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the guest who had come to him, but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.” Then David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die, and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.”
Nathan said to David, “You are the man! – 2 Samuel 12: 1-7
“You are the man!” Nathan confronts David by speaking to his true desires and to his heart. David’s initial response when he doesn’t realize it’s him is immense anger and condemnation. Had Nathan come in and just stated everything directly, clearly it would not have gone well. Nathan is David’s Wilson, and in using David’s word against him and his true intentions against him breaks down the walls he has put up.
We need someone in our life that is willing to be brave enough to break down the walls we put up and speak truth no matter how tough it is. Likewise, we need to be humble and allow them and be able to receive it no matter how hard.
North Bullitt Christian Church 