Leading with Honesty and Integrity
At the end of Samuel’s leadership, in his farewell address, he asked the people an important question we should ask ourselves as leaders. He asked them if they thought he led with honesty and integrity. The answer was a resounding yes (1 Samuel 12). Could we say the same of our Presidents, Governors, church leaders, and municipal leaders? Can we say the same of ourselves?
The wanting part is easy; the willing part is hard. We all want to be successful. We all want to be honorable and to live blameless lives. But yet we do dumb things. It’s often easier to see others' flaws than our own. But as Christ’s men we are called to introspection. We are called to challenge and admonish one another to help each other grow and to hold our leaders accountable. That’s the Christian way.
This season of Lent has shown me how little self-control I have and how impressive Moses’ example of 40 days and 40 nights without food in deep prayer for others was (Deuteronomy 8 and 9) (not to mention our Savior’s time in the wilderness!). I want to be blameless. But what do I do about it? Do I commit to being blameless? Is that my chief goal?
The Bible uses practical examples because we need them. I’m amazed at how thick, stubborn, and rebellious I can be. Would we sit and eat a whole jar of honey? Of course not! Then why would we seek honor for ourselves? God says seeking honor for ourselves is equally unhealthy and foolish (Proverbs 25:27). I was convicted of that this week.
Don’t underestimate God’s ability and willingness to humble us, test us, and prove our character and to find out whether we will obey His commands (Deuteronomy 8:2). God goes to great lengths to discipline and train His people. He wants us not just fighting fit, but good, nay, godly.
Plan to do good today. Planning to do good results in unfailing love and faithfulness (Proverbs 14:22). The Bible says it is high time we stop trying to impress others - be humble today. All day.
We know the truth that it is better to be an ordinary person with a servant than to be self-important but have no food (Prov. 12:9). God not only opposes the proud and haughty - He wants nothing to do with them. God is a friend to the oddball (thank God!). He loves the ordinary man who listens to Him, works hard, and has a teachable spirit. The extraordinary is the ordinary mom or dad. Contrite. Reliant on Jesus. And lowly in spirit. It is easy to be full of ourselves - and oh so common. The overconfident and self-important Christian. But it is time to stop that. We are Jesus’ people. Everything we have is from the Father above. Let’s stop criticizing others and replace that mindset with one of thankfulness for God’s love (Philippians 2:1-5).
God loves us beyond measure. The way of making us right with Jesus does not depend on our LSAT score, our neighborhood address, our medals, the make and model of our vehicle, or our family ties.
God’s designed way of salvation depends on faith. Trust Jesus. Desire to know Him more. Abraham was humble and honest, a man of faith in God and integrity. Moses too was humble, amazingly so. Thomas was willing to throw out everything for His Lord and Savior. Paul thought the things the world values to be rubbish because of Christ’s stuffing, death, resurrection, and call to obediently teach the truth of life. We can't say we don't have role models of honesty, humility, and integrity. We do.
Gents, let’s press on today. We work and listen and rely on God for all other ways are useless. There is emptiness in self-importance. We are citizens of heaven and we pattern our thinking and our living on Christ who calls us to our heavenly reward.
Let's recommit to integrity, changing our statements of want to statements of will. There is a pattern in the human condition. We desperately need God. He provides so generously. In our affluence, we get full of ourselves, forget Him, don’t praise Him for His provision, and we then suffer the consequences of going our own way. Step in and stop that pattern in your life. Let's commit to doing good today.
Victory and blessing are from God and for those who serve well. May we be those blameless leaders today who help others and lead with honesty and integrity. Amen.
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