Leaders fall and can be disqualified. But why and how?
As a leader, if you are at all like me, you’re hurt, disappointed, angry and discouraged when you read of yet another leader who has been taken out of the battle. It seems to happen a few times each year and makes front page news; especially with leaders who have a national profile.
What can we learn from this so it doesn’t happen to you, to me?
I’ve been thinking lately that there are three ways leaders bite the dust. I’m not saying that these three are the only reasons, but perhaps three of the main reasons.
Financial:
The Bible has a lot to say about money, especially about being greedy for more of it. John D Rockefeller was once asked how much money it would take to make a man happy and he responded, “Just a little bit more.”
When money is the goal, more always seems better. I Timothy 6: 6-9, in The Message, gives us a clear warning:
“A devout life does bring wealth, but it’s the rich simplicity of being yourself before god…But if it’s only money these leaders are after, they’ll self-destruct in no time.”
How many leaders have you known, or perhaps even worked with or for, that have self-destructed over greed more money?
There can be harmful greed for more popularity, more promotions, and more success, as well as for more money, but the money makes the headlines pretty quickly.
I’ve told many leaders that one of the best chapters in the Bible on money and wealth is 1 Timothy 6.
In this chapter is the well known phrase (Verse 10) “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.”
It’s not saying that having money is the issue, but loving money is. I recently came across Proverb 30:15 in The Passion Translation,
“There are three words to describe the greedy, give me more. There are some things that are never satisfied. Forever craving more, they’re unable to say that’s enough”
Once that desire for more, that lust for more, sets in and takes over, bad things can happen, and have happened, to leaders.
If it’s only (or primarily) money we’re after, we’re lured into some very bad and harmful decisions to get more. This can quickly take us out of the battle.
I once was on the board of a church where one of our elders embezzled $10,000 from the weekly offerings. It put all of us in a very difficult and precarious situation.
Relational:
A successful life, that honors the Lord, always flows out of healthy relationships, whether we’re talking about the family, the church, the market place or any kind of team. When I think of relationships, I think first of my relationship with Jesus and then the other people I have in my life. Significantly neglecting those relationship, or abusing those relationships in any way, can soon result in disqualification.
When we read about bully leadership, narcissistic leaders, controlling, overly authoritative, manipulative leaders, we are talking about relational abuse. This is, at times, the issue with very successful leaders who run rough shod over the people they work with. There are two book notes on my website dealing with this issue:
- Bully Pulpit
- When narcissism comes to church
“You’ve observed how godless rulers throw their weight around, he (Jesus) said, and when people get a little power, how quickly it goes to their heads. It’s not going to be that way with you.” Mark 10:42, 43 The Message.
Put into the context of Christian leadership / leaders and personalizing it, it could read: When Christian leaders get a little popularity, success, book publishing, podcasts conference speaking, respect and adulation, how quickly it goes to their heads. Dave, I don’t want this to happen to you.
It was John Stott who said,“Pride is my greatest enemy. Humility is my greatest friend.”
When successful, we can either grow in humility or grow in pride and it deeply affects how we view and treat others.
A question I’ve asked myself over the years is why is it that so many successful Christian leaders become proud rather than humble. Not sure I yet have the answer. “But when he (Uzziah) became powerful, he also became proud, which led to his downfall.” ~ 2 Chronicles 26:16
Sexual:
This one is the biggie of the three. It makes for salacious headlines and quickly turns heads in Christian circles. It’s interesting to note that the man after God’s own heart (David) the strongest man in the Bible (Sampson) and the wisest man in the Bible (Solomon) all took a hit on this—accompanied with a costly price tag.
The book of proverbs is loaded with warnings on this. Unfortunately Solomon, who wrote the book of proverbs, didn’t follow his own advice.
In the United States we live in a sexual cesspool with what comes our way via social media, television, magazines movies and music. Porn is a multibillion dollar industry. Christian leaders are definitely not immune to this onslaught, and we may be the enemy’s prime target (1 Peter 5:8).
I have personally seen sexual sin happen with close friends of mine—it’s always sad and disheartening and, in some instances, disqualifying if not dealt with and repented of.
“Hell and destruction are never full so the eyes of man are never satisfied”
~ Proverb 27:20 KJ
Once we start to go down this road, it’s like drugs; we need more and more to keep us satisfied
“Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Can one go upon hot coals and his feet not be burned?”
~ Proverb 6:27,28 KJ
This speak of the power of association—both people as well as things we allow ourselves to hear, see or read.
I pray for divine protection from these three landmines most very day!
By His Grace, two things I will do to not fall and be disqualified are:
1. Growing in intimacy with Jesus through a set of spiritual disciplines which I will consistently practice, so I can hear His loving rebuke when I’m moving into the danger zone through my thinking or acting.
2. Growing by experiencing genuine community with a few close friends who love me, want the best for me, and are not afraid to confront me. True Nathans are not easy to find these days. As I write this, I have three such true and honest friends for whom I’m very grateful.
When I get to the end of my race, I want to hit the finish line, and hear: “Well done good and faithful servant.”
By His grace, it shall be so.
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