Every Leader Needs Someone to Speak Truth into Her or His Life

When one gains a position of influence and authority, it al­most always means that fewer people are willing to tell you the truth. This happens for several reasons, including a desire to im­press the leader, to gain the favor of the leader, to avoid the lead­er’s negative response to the truth, or because people genuinely hold the leader in such high esteem that they think the leader’s actions must be right.

God provided just about every king with a prophet to keep him honest, or at least so he would be without excuse. Saul had Samuel, Ahab had Elijah, Hezekiah had Isaiah, Herod had John the Baptist, Barak Obama had FOX News, and David had Nathan. Nathan told David the truth tactfully, privately, and effectively. He drew David in with a story. Disarmed, David walked right into the truth.

While many leaders are prone to avoid conflict, one cannot di­minish the importance of confrontation. We all need people in our lives who will tell us the truth. Kings need prophets to keep them honest, just as leaders need truth-tellers to keep them honest.

If God has called you to confront sin, do so humbly, coura­geously, and artfully. Do so at the right time (diplomatically), in the right way (tactfully), with the right words (truthfully), and with the right attitude (humbly).

Unfortunately, it is possible to build an organizational struc­ture, or to create an organizational culture, in which it is all but impossible for a prophet to be heard, or to survive. There may be times when you need to confront others with their sin. Or, there may be times when others need to confront you with your sin. If so, may you have the courage of Nathan in the one case and the honesty of David in the other.

Leadership Lesson #82.  Excerpted from: Who’s Got Your Back? Leadership Lessons from the Life of King David (Kansas City: Beacon Hill Press, 2014)