Courageous LeadersSample

PERSONAL INTEGRITY

One of the most difficult things a leader has to deal with is temptation. God expects a leader to exhibit a high degree of personal integrity while the devil is trying his best to do otherwise. In Joshua 7 we read that after conquering the strongly fortified city of Jericho, the Israelites were defeated by a small town called Ai. This was because Achan, a foot soldier defied Joshua’s orders and hid some of the spoils from Jericho for himself. David was selected by God to be king of Israel and in fact it is said that he was a man after God’s heart. However David was tempted and he committed adultery with Bathshebha . Not only that, he also ensured that her husband Uriah was killed in battle. He could achieve both these terrible things on account of his leadership position and the power that came with it. When Nathan confronted David with his sin he repented. He wrote most of the Psalms including Psalm 51 which is a beautiful prayer asking God for mercy and restitution. In Psalm 15 David writes of how the character of a leader should be. “He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart.” He further writes about staying away from slander and not taking bribes, and ends with the phrase, “He who does these things shall never be shaken.”

A lot of power is vested in a leader and that makes him/her very vulnerable to losing his/her integrity. As a doctor and administrator I am often offered “incentives” so that a particular drug/item is stocked in the hospital pharmacy and many do fall to the temptation of expensive gifts and overseas trips. At times the leader may think that no one knows of his “secret sin”. David again reminds us in Psalm 139:7, “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence?” We must ask God daily to fill us with His grace so that we would have the strength to resist temptation. And if we do fall let us, like David, confess and ask God for forgiveness.

Prayer

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.