The Leadership Style Of JesusSýnishorn

No Compromise

By Michael Youssef, Ph.D.

Being a godly leader will cost you something because true leaders stand up for what is right. They do not make moral compromises, and they do not take the easy way out in order to get ahead or keep the peace. We see this again and again in the lives of the apostles in the New Testament, and we see it down through the ages, embodied in the countless saints who suffered, and sometimes died, because they took a bold stand for Jesus. Though it may not be your freedom or your life on the line when you make a stand, it takes a measure of the same boldness.

Jesus is King. To compromise on the values of the King and His kingdom is tantamount to treason. Leadership success in Jesus' eyes is not about fame, power, or position. Instead, He looks to see whether or not we have been faithful. And being faithful to Jesus will often cause us to be at odds with this world.

Whether there is a benefit to honesty and integrity, authentic leaders need to take a stand for the truth and for their values. As one leader said, "If I compromise on one principle with one customer, where do I draw the line?"

In John 2, Jesus, the greatest leader who ever lived, stood boldly against the religious leaders of His day because they had turned God's house into a flea market. He braided a whip, strode through the temple courtyard, lashed at the money changers and merchants with the whip, and overturned their tables. As He did so, He rebuked them for their wicked practices.

Have you ever made moral compromises to fit in or to get ahead? If you haven't already done so, confess the sin to Jesus and ask Him to help you display complete integrity in every area of life.

Prayer: Lord, strengthen my faith as I obey You and lead with integrity. In the past, I've cut corners or taken shortcuts. Forgive me, Lord, and cover over any of my wrongdoings with Your grace. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

"Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain" (1 Corinthians 15:58).