Examine Yourself Behind The Walls | 1 Samuel 12:1-5

What is going on behind the walls of your life?

Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller.

This week, we are in 1 Samuel 12. I've titled this chapter "God is Faithful When We Are Not."

Backing up, here's the context. The nation of Israel is gathered at Gilgal for a time of celebration and remembrance, and essentially, we are watching the transition of leadership from the time of the judges to the time of the kings. Samuel gives an address to all the people, and here is what he says in verses 1-5. It reads.

And Samuel said to all Israel, “Behold, I have obeyed your voice in all that you have said to me and have made a king over you. And now, behold, the king walks before you, and I am old and gray; and behold, my sons are with you. I have walked before you from my youth until this day. Here I am; testify against me before the Lord and before his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Or whose donkey have I taken? Or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Or from whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes with it? Testify against me and I will restore it to you.” They said, “You have not defrauded us or oppressed us or taken anything from any man's hand.” And he said to them, “The Lord is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand.” And they said, “He is witness.” — 1 Samuel 12:1-5

Samuel is exposing his leadership character and integrity to the people. He says, "Examine me," as I have "examined myself."

Many men and leaders are unwilling to do what Samuel does here. It's the same reason many don't want to go to marital counseling, medical exams, or legal audits. They are afraid. They are so scared of what they don't know, might learn, or have spent a lot of time hiding. Yet the man who submits himself to examination and is willing to expose himself is the one who experiences the most freedom. He has nothing to hide. He lives consciously free because he has been freed from the fear and the bondage of hiding.

Years ago, I was walking through a large multi-million dollar home a friend was building for one of his clients. It had just been framed, and as we walked through it, he noticed a few twisted studs in the wall. On the way out, he grabbed a hammer and beat three of them out. Honestly, I was surprised by what he did. But I'll never forget what he said next.

"Vince," he said. "The owner would never know about those twisted studs after the wallboard is up. But I would always know, and these people work with me because they know I build homes with integrity."

That was an unforgettable, teachable moment.

The problem is that most leaders don't behave like this. Most of the time, leaders hide minor issues because of insecurities. They put the wallboard up over their minor problems. Over time, they learn to get better and better at hiding the issues behind the wallboard of life. Until one day, there's a big problem. Then, they have to rip the wallboard down and address it. But behind the wallboard, there is more than just one issue. There are twisted studs, leaking pipes, electrical problems, and a torn vapor barrier that all need to be redone. Now, the issue affects not only them but everyone in the home, and the price tag is costly.

Take some time to self-examine or open yourself up to public examination. Get over your resistance to change. Permit yourself to experience all the benefits of a wholly exposed life. Doing this is as simple as taking a few minutes to ask someone you lead for leadership feedback. Or as bold as asking your spouse or children to tell you something you need to change to be a better husband or father. Remember, to find freedom and genuine integrity, you might have to rip out some studs. So get to work.

#IntegrityInLeadership, #EmbraceSelfExamination, #FaithfulLiving

Ask This:
In what areas of your life are you hiding issues behind a "wallboard" of superficial solutions, and how can you start addressing these underlying problems with honesty and integrity?
Who in your life can you invite to give you honest feedback about your leadership, character, or relationships, and how will you respond to their input to foster genuine growth and transparency?
Do This:

Live expose and challenge yourself to self-examination.

Pray This:

Lord, grant me the courage to honestly examine my life and address the hidden issues that may be holding me back. Help me embrace integrity and seek genuine growth so that I can lead with transparency and honor You in all I do. Amen.

Play This:

Clear The Stage.