More often than we would like, we hear sad and sometimes scandalous stories about prominent leaders found guilty of immoral or unethical misconduct. Someone had built an impeccable reputation and earned respect and admiration in his professional life, but when evil deeds were discovered, everything suddenly came crashing down.
How could this happen? We are perplexed and shake our heads, perhaps recalling the mournful words of the future king of Israel, David: “How the mighty are fallen” (2 Samuel 1:19), when he learned of the death of King Saul and his son Jonathan on the battlefield. When we hear about a leader's epic failure, we may also have other questions: Could it have been avoided? Were there early signs that this man's career was taking a destructive turn?
Scripture gives many warnings that this could happen. For example, 1 Corinthians 10:12 warns, “Therefore let him who thinks he stands be careful not to fall.” Proverbs 4:23 warns, “Keep your heart with all your guard, for from it are the springs of life.”
The pages of the Bible tell of many people who started off well in their walk with God, but somewhere along the way they fell into the snares of sin, which led to dire consequences. Ironically, one of them was King David, who, according to 2 Samuel 11, not only committed adultery, but also ordered the death of the faithful warrior Uriah to cover up his sin. Since we are all imperfect, does that mean such failures are inevitable?
One preventative measure may be to establish an accountability relationship with one or more people whom you trust and know will be honest with you. For this to be effective, you must be willing to tell them, “You can ask me any question—about every area of my life.” The purpose of this is not to catch you failing, but to give you the opportunity to excel at what you want to do and to warn you if they see you going in the wrong direction. Here are some helpful principles from the Bible:
We can keep each other on our toes. We benefit from “constructive friction” when we encounter each other in a caring, accountable relationship, striving to do the best for each other. “Iron sharpens iron, and a man sharpens the sight of his friend” (Proverbs 27:17).
We can find strength in numbers. In isolation, we can rationalize or even deceive ourselves by doing things we know are wrong or unreasonable. “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor: for if one falls, another will lift up his companion...” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12).
We all need support. It is in times of discouragement that we can become most vulnerable to temptation. People who encourage us can remind us of our hope in the Lord. “Let us be attentive to each other, encouraging each other to love and good deeds. Let us not forsake meeting ourselves together, as is the custom of some; But let us encourage one another…” (Hebrews 10:24-25).
We can trust reliable people when we fail. Instead of hiding sin and allowing guilt to consume us, we trust trusted accountability partners who can provide invaluable advice on how to get back on track. “Confess your faults one to another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed: the earnest prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16).
© 2023. Robert J. Tamasi wrote Market Ambassadors: The Continuing Legacy of CBMC Evangelism and Discipleship; Business at its Best: Timeless Proverbial Wisdom for Today's Workplace; "Finding Life with a Shepherd's Heart" co-authored with Ken Johnson; and The Heart of Mentoring, co-authored with David A. Stoddard. Bob's bi-weekly blog: www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com.
Questions for reflection/discussion
NOTE. If you have a Bible and want to read more, consider the following passages: Proverbs 12:15, 18:2,4,12,24, 19:3,8,16,20,27; James 3:13-18
