The Leader Who Struggled With Character & Credibility: The Law of Solid Ground/John Maxwell

In our world, many say that what a leader does with his personal time is his business.  We argue that what a leader does with his personal time DOES matter, because personal and spiritual choices (our value system) inform leadership. Reid Kisling contends that our character determines our ethics and decision-making. Some people say character is consistency in behavior over time. Others say it involves acting upon core values. Yet others say it is what you do when no one is looking.

Foundational to the Law of Solid Ground is Trust. Trust is the foundation of leadership. Maxwell informs us that trust requires leaders to exemplify competence, connection, and character. When people trust you, they will follow you. John Morely observed, “No man can climb out beyond the limitations of his own character.”

Let’s examine Samson’s leadership journey

Over time, Samson displayed three glaring signs indicating he was having trouble with the Law of Solid Ground:

Character signal #1: Samson failed to address glaring character weaknesses.

He struggled with sexual impurity because he did not try to restrain his desires (Judges 14:3). His desire caused him to violate God’s law not to marry non-Hebrews.

Character signal #2: Samson frequently used deception to protect himself

He flirted with disobedience. He played tricks on people, had an affair with the enemy (Delilah), and lied very often. Leaders who enjoy twisting truth end up in trouble.

Character signal #3: Samson often acted impulsively

He frequently made rash judgments and did not consider the consequences of his decisions. He did not control his temper. Self-control is key to good character.

Hopefully, Samson’s life and leadership will guide our thinking this week. Let’s wrap up today’s episode. We started this episode with the premise that you can tell when leaders are having character trouble – You will see drips of character and credibility failures. This is when they are not on solid ground. These lessons are both for followers and leaders. Wherever you are on the life journey, know that those who give free reign to their sins will eventually be consumed by them. Samson made a bit too many withdrawals from his character bank. Samson the deceiver, was deceived by Delilah the seducer. He toyed with her, knowing she was the enemy, and lost everything (Judges 16:18).