Galatians 6:7-8 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
Character communicates consistency and respect. Leaders earn respect by making sound decisions, admitting their mistakes, and putting what’s best for his or her followers as well as the organization ahead of their personal agendas. A leader’s good character builds trust among his followers. However, if a leader breaks trust, he forfeits his ability to lead. Trust is a foundation of leadership. If you consistently violate the Law of Solid Ground, and leadership days are numbered in the workplace and the home. You may lead at work temporarily by following sound business principles but utterly fail at home because you lack Godly wisdom and credibility. In other words your walk and talk are inconsistent! You are not authentic in becoming Christ-like! God wants to develop His character in us so we can persevere for the long haul. Yet how He does it is often anything but easy.Examine Credibility in Scripture
The word authentic goes from English back to French back to Latin and ultimately to the Greek authentikos. It means “conforming to the original” or “reproducing the essential features” of something, as in “authentic French cuisine.” If something is authentic, it is not a fake or an imitation. Collectors will pay a lot of money for an authentic Abraham Lincoln signature. Another definition says that authentic means “being actually and exactly what is claimed,” and the example given is “genuine maple syrup.” Not watered-down, but maple syrup through and through.
To be credible means that you are believable.
To be authentic means that you are genuine and real, not a fake or phony.
Put the words together and a credible, authentic leader is someone who can be trusted because he is what he professes to be. He is the real deal, what you see is what you get.
Here are few observations about credibility.
- Credibility is earned over a long period of time.
- Credibility is not all about what you do or what you say. It’s about who you are on the inside.
- You cannot fool the people closest to you forever.
- Your ministry will have lasting impact in direct proportion to the integrity of your own life.
- The great enemies of credibility are pride, arrogance, isolation, and excessive self-confidence.
- Ironically the more gifted you are and the more successful you are, the easier it becomes to fake your way through life.
- Credibility once lost is very difficult to regain.
What qualities mark a person as a credible, authentic for leadership?
- Honesty.
- Willingness to admit your faults.
- Consistency.
- Kindness under pressure.
- Accountability in the small areas of life.
- Willingness to answer hard questions.
- Quick to accept blame, quick to praise others.
- Not taking yourself too seriously.
- Knowing your own limitations.
- Not blaming others for your own problems.
- Being Confrontable.
- Approachable without retribution.
- Handling anger appropriately.
- Not offended when others get the credit you deserve (having no desire or need to brag about yourself).
- Keeping your word.
Men, there’s another word for living like this. We call it Integrity! You see the leader in your home must have integrity and credibility or he will never be acceptable to his family or his God! We are not born with Integrity. Integrity is something that is developed in our lives through the choices we make every day and the way we treat others. Often the best demonstration of Integrity is how you are and what you do when no one is looking. How do you treat people who can do you absolutely no good? What is your walk before God like when you are on your private computer and alone? How do you treat your wife and children when they disappoint you?
Integrity is an internal standard and conviction. It is having a sensitive conscience before God. The more sensitive your conscience is, the more in tune with the Holy Spirit you will be. If your conscience is given over to Holy Spirit leadership you will make wise decisions. As you follow your conscience, you will develop integrity in your life. True character and integrity are revealed in the choices you make when no one else is around.
Leading With Integrity
Two men in the Bible clearly demonstrate the power of brokenness and integrity. Saul and David were both imperfect. Both made mistakes. Both sinned. One had his power taken from him. The other was able to maintain it in his life. One had integrity. The other did not. What was the difference?
Saul made a lot of mistakes as king. He fell into insecurity, jealousy, anger, hatred, pride, rebellion, fear of man and witchcraft. He was an imperfect vessel. Yet when he was first called by God, he was humble and lowly in his own eyes. But pride soon took over his heart.
When the prophet Samuel confronted his sin, Saul freely admitted it (1 Sam. 15:30). But in his next breath he asks to be honored before the people. Saul was not truly broken or repentant before God. He had a worldly sorrow. He was sorry that he got caught. He was sorry for the consequences he now had to face.
But he still cared more about his own reputation than he did about hurting God’s heart. His heart was not pure. It was not truly broken or repentant. He was still seeking honor before men. Eventually Saul's sins took a terrible turn as he took seducing evil spirits for his guide in life. God refused his leadership and took it from him...it's called consequences!
Let’s look at David’s brokenness. Like Saul, he made some bad mistakes when he was king. He committed murder and adultery. Yet God called David a man after His own heart. How can this be? How can a man who commits such horrible things be after God’s heart? When David was confronted for his sin, we see his response in Psalm 51.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+51&version=NASB
David was not concerned about his reputation. He was concerned about grieving God’s heart and losing God’s presence in his life. His relationship with God was the most important thing to him. It was because of his godly brokenness that he did not lose the kingdom; nor did he lose God’s power in his life.
He sinned, but he received forgiveness through godly repentance. Even though he still faced consequences for his bad choices and actions, he didn’t lose his relationship with God or his authority and power. Godly brokenness brought restoration in his life.·
The integrity produced in David’s heart through his testings—including both the ones he passed and failed—caused God’s power to be harnessed, maintained and sustained in his life, maintaining his kingship.
David’s response meant everything to God. Even though he failed at times, he won in the end because he really had a heart after God. He allowed God to work integrity into his life.
Cultivating a repentant heart is the essential key to living a life of integrity. A broken and contrite heart will fully turn to God in weakness and receive God’s strength to change.·
Integrity is an internal conviction that no one else can give you. It has to come from within your own heart! The bottom line is this, you lack character you lack Trust, if you lack Trust you lack Credibility, if you lack Credibility you lack Integrity. Without these traits you cannot be allowed to lead ANYTHING! That isn't God's fault...it's yours what are you going to do about it? If you have a yearning for God and heart to match it's not too late.
(I want to thank Pastor Ray Pritchard at www.keepbelieving.com for a part of this blog)
See you next blog,
Ted
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