Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.  James 3:1 

 

Years ago, someone scrawled on the walls of Canterbury Cathedral, 'The Archbishop cheats at Scrabble.' Even Archbishops can have chinks in their armor! But then again, don’t we all? The important thing is to discover your flaws and deal with them. You can avoid mistakes by listening for the ‘alarm bells’. Maybe these questions will ring some for you: (1) Is my personal walk with God up-to-date? If that question doesn’t prompt a quick yes, you’re getting too close to the edge. A disciplined daily walk is your best protection. The Psalmist says, 'Thy Word have I treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against Thee' (Psalm 119:11 NAS). What we think about is what we become! Look out! If you’re not spending time with God, you’re spending it on whatever has become more important to you than Him. (2) Are my priorities in order? Priorities have a way of sneaking out of position when we’re not paying attention. Too many of us become ‘successful’ only at the cost of broken homes or lost health, because at some point along the road to success our priorities shifted. (3) Am I accountable to anybody? You should be scared of following anyone who isn’t! Only God can handle ultimate, unquestioned authority. Paul writes, '... appreciate those who...have charge over you in the Lord' (See 1 Thessolonians 5:12 NAS). We all need people in our lives with 20/20 vision to cover our blind spots and keep us balanced. Authority without accountability equals disaster, as talent without discipline! Still think you’re called to lead?