No Compromise

Solomon showed his love for YHWH by walking according to the instructions given him by his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places. – 1 Kings 3:3

Solomon, son of David, was one of the greatest leaders Israel ever knew but he had a weakness for beautiful women, and it ruined him. As king and God's chosen leader, he knew what was right, but still compromised his faith in God and his practice of it.

Those who wish to lead God's people, who wish to be respected as leaders, who wish to be known as those who love the Lord, cannot be such if they tolerate personal compromise concerning God's truth. Each of us must walk our talk and practice that which we so often teach or preach. Every time one of us fails, and it isn’t just in areas of blatant immorality but more often honesty and integrity, we harm many others who have looked to us for guidance or as a model of how to live out the Christian life. It isn’t about “perfection,” but rather the willingness to live transparently before God and this world. Of course, we will (at times) fail, but when we do, we must do so humbly remembering our frailty.

Compromise in character or God's truth will ultimately lead to ministerial failure. God forbid that it should ever be me, or you.

Few things are more infectious than a godly lifestyle. The people you rub shoulders with everyday need that kind of challenge. Not prudish. Not preachy. Just cracker jack clean living. Just honest to goodness, bone-deep, non-hypocritical integrity. – Chuck Swindoll