The headlines are filled with stories of people who fail in ministry due to a short-sided decisions or a compromise of integrity. They trade all that God has for them for momentary pleasure. What is more, many leaders live with the weight of shame and guilt and settle for less than God’s call because they believe their secret is that horrible. Yet God is full of grace and has the power to pick leaders back up. Integrity can be restored. But what if there was a way to avoid the pitfalls so many ministry leaders find themselves? Certainly, there is a way and Wayde Goodall identifies fourteen areas/temptations that can take a leader out; as well as, a plan to avoid their destruction. He says, “If we avoid life’s hazards, we will save ourselves
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Goodall points out the reason leaders need better accountability by stating, “The more responsibility we have, the more we need good advice. The advice, counsel, and accountability that we choose to include in our decisions provides us with a greater ability to hit the right target.”9 Goodall’s advice is much appreciated because the decisions leaders make as they move gain influence contain greater consequences. For example, as a pastor’s church body grows, the budget grows. Making a decision for a half million dollars and twenty million dollars has significantly more at stake, not to mention the staff and their families. Therefore, accountability refers to the guidance and counsel of a trusted team. This includes people who will tell the leader no. Goodall warns that, “Surrounding yourself with ‘yes men’ will not help you see the real picture either.”10 All in all, accountability means that a leader needs to be willing to submit to another’s wisdom.11 Furthermore, to win with accountability I have surrounded myself with people who can tell me no and call me out when I am acting foolish. The important part is they love me and love Jesus even more so they hold me to my integrity and …show more content…
As leaders gain more and more influence within an organization there can become a sense of deserving recognition, perks and service without having to work for them. Goodall gives the example of why King David would settle for a one-night stand with Bathsheba. David believe he deserved her. Perhaps David thought, “I’m the king, I can do anything I want, and I’ve earned the right. I am entitled to this.”12 However, the results were devastating for David, Bathsheba, Uriah and their descendants. In fact, Goodall points out that entitlement does not just affect the leader in negative ways, he says, “A sense of entitlement can have a devastating impact on your organization, your family, or your church.”13 So how does leader avoid falling into the pitfall of entitlement? Goodall recommends that every leader examine themselves and see if there are “claiming to be entitled to something”14 that is not theirs. In other words, do I believe that the church should buy all my coffee, pay all my personal photocopies or give me the best parking spot on Sundays? No. Jesus said the greatest will be the servant of all.15 In addition, I have chosen to not take gifts or prizes from the church unless the staff or elders insists. For example, I won a coffee card in a staff contest. I immediately gave the coffee card to another team member because I do not want to believe I deserve more than my basic compensation. All in all, it keeps my
Goodall points out the reason leaders need better accountability by stating, “The more responsibility we have, the more we need good advice. The advice, counsel, and accountability that we choose to include in our decisions provides us with a greater ability to hit the right target.”9 Goodall’s advice is much appreciated because the decisions leaders make as they move gain influence contain greater consequences. For example, as a pastor’s church body grows, the budget grows. Making a decision for a half million dollars and twenty million dollars has significantly more at stake, not to mention the staff and their families. Therefore, accountability refers to the guidance and counsel of a trusted team. This includes people who will tell the leader no. Goodall warns that, “Surrounding yourself with ‘yes men’ will not help you see the real picture either.”10 All in all, accountability means that a leader needs to be willing to submit to another’s wisdom.11 Furthermore, to win with accountability I have surrounded myself with people who can tell me no and call me out when I am acting foolish. The important part is they love me and love Jesus even more so they hold me to my integrity and …show more content…
As leaders gain more and more influence within an organization there can become a sense of deserving recognition, perks and service without having to work for them. Goodall gives the example of why King David would settle for a one-night stand with Bathsheba. David believe he deserved her. Perhaps David thought, “I’m the king, I can do anything I want, and I’ve earned the right. I am entitled to this.”12 However, the results were devastating for David, Bathsheba, Uriah and their descendants. In fact, Goodall points out that entitlement does not just affect the leader in negative ways, he says, “A sense of entitlement can have a devastating impact on your organization, your family, or your church.”13 So how does leader avoid falling into the pitfall of entitlement? Goodall recommends that every leader examine themselves and see if there are “claiming to be entitled to something”14 that is not theirs. In other words, do I believe that the church should buy all my coffee, pay all my personal photocopies or give me the best parking spot on Sundays? No. Jesus said the greatest will be the servant of all.15 In addition, I have chosen to not take gifts or prizes from the church unless the staff or elders insists. For example, I won a coffee card in a staff contest. I immediately gave the coffee card to another team member because I do not want to believe I deserve more than my basic compensation. All in all, it keeps my