Have you ever asked yourself, “What would it take for me to disobey God?” (137-4)

Unfortunately, history is filled with accounts of leaders who disregarded God’s revealed will and chose to do what seemed right to them at the time. Read Proverbs 16:25.

A fundamental question all Christian leaders should have an answer to prior to the temptation to participate is, “When is the price of obedience to God too costly?” Or put another way, “When does my way benefit me so much that it seems more right to me than God’s way?” Every Christian leader should periodically ask, “Do I have a price that would tempt me to choose my desires over God’s standards?” A godly leader’s commitment to God should be such that they will obey Him no matter the perceived value of the compromise offered.

I like the way the Living Bible paraphrases Proverbs 16:25, “Before every man there lies a wide and pleasant road he thinks is right, but it leads to death.”

Don’t be fooled to think only the big choices matter to God. Every parent knows the signs of disobedience show up first in the small decisions of their children. Are you looking for the signs of obedience to God in your everyday work? Do you take liberties that favor you with some minor details in your expense reports? Are your progress reports honest in all details or do you shade a sentence here or there to make yourself look a little better? Are you completely above board and honoring God in your work relationships with the opposite sex? Do you go to an extreme to make sure there are no seemingly innocent flirtations whether at home or during business travel?

According to the Bible, a fundamental factor of the quality of this life and the next is our response to God’s initiatives and claims on the choices we make. A response is unavoidable. Leaders may choose to ignore or resist God’s initiatives and requirements in their decision making but that is the same as disobedience. Only a positive response to be obedient to God’s revealed will can please God.

Have you ever asked yourself “What is my price and what would it take for me to disobey God?” According to 1 Samuel 15:22, “To obey is better than sacrifice.”