Whenever I am hiking, I always am on the lookout for holes in the ground or roots exposed. The reason for this is experience, I have tripped over too many of these in my lifetime. There is nothing worse than having to hike out of some beautiful place with a twisted ankle. Leadership has its own issues that will trip you up as well. King Saul provides a perfect case study of someone who tripped over his character flaws. Avoid these pitfalls.
1 Chronicles 10:13-14
Saul died for his unfaithfulness to the Lord because he did not keep the Lord’s word. He even consulted a medium for guidance, but he did not inquire of the Lord. So the Lord put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.
A Cautionary Tale
King Saul’s life is a cautionary tale. He was everything Israel thought why wanted. He was a king like other countries plus he was tall and good looking. Sadly, those didn’t cover up for significant character flaws. He didn’t keep God’s Word, looked to the spirit world for council, and didn’t inquire of the Lord. For a leader, those are significant problems, and it eventually led to Saul’s death. This is why God always judges a person by their heart.
Focus Inward
One of the dangers of leadership is cultivating the appearance of having it all together while covering major integrity issues. If we work more on the outside issues than on the inside one, we are eventually going to crash and burn. Every leader needs to build his character by being honest, humble and focused on those they are called to serve. The greatest equity any person has is their integrity.
Avoid These Pitfalls
Take a lesson from Saul and do the opposite. Be faithful to the Lord by keeping His Word, seeking His counsel, and rejecting ungodly influences. When you do this, you are building a strong foundation on which your character can grow and flourish. Through commitment and persistence, you will begin to see the fruit of your labor and prevent any significant falls.