Leadership can be an incubator for corruption.  Positions of power test the most trusted, proven leader.

But we know that corruption is never a big deal, at least not at first.  Instead, it begins in the small, unseen places.  More specifically, it begins with a distorted view of ourselves.  Often a leader looks for his identity in the dangerous places of approval, power, and even entitlement.

In Paul’s opening sentence to the Romans, he identified himself in three ways that every leader or influencer should embrace with all our might.  These three attitudes reveal that after many years of successful ministry Paul still had a realistic, yet confident, view of himself that positioned him for lasting Kingdom impact.

The goals of others are more important than our own.

Paul called himself a “bond slave.”  That is a person who gives himself to the needs and interests of others with a practical disregard for his own personal priorities.  As much as we in ministry use this word, we practice it far too seldom.  Many of our followers are unconvinced we believe in them more than we believe in ourselves.  As much as they may love us and appreciate our efforts, they have stopped expecting this approach from us.

The servant-leader is becoming an endangered species and is being gradually replaced with the savior-leader.  This is the leader who believes he alone possesses the abilities, answers, and authority to captain the ship.  This leader-centered approach feeds our egos, discounts the insights of others, and releases team members from the responsibility to partner in the process.   And it is one small beginning to big time corruption.

The calling of God is a privilege to fulfill not a right to impose.

Paul said he was “called as an apostle.”  He still knew that God had invited him into this amazing Gospel enterprise.  Godly leaders never lose their sense of awe as an invited guest into the holy place of church leadership.  Never is it a simple vocation.  Never is it a mere profession.  Vocations and professions are driven by rights, policies, and org charts.  Structure is important, but if we are not careful spiritual leadership quickly turns into a position rather than a privilege.

The call of God is not merely a sanctified term we use to validate our job.  It is a reality for every credible leader.  We are not in service because God needs us to help Him out of a tight, or because our skill set meets the needs on the job description.  We are objects of God’s gracious initiative, which He took to demonstrate His glory.  Corruption will surely grow from a heart that believes anything else.

The appointment of God precisely positions us for greatest Gospel influence.

The term “set apart” refers to a specific assignment for a specific purpose.  God does not issue a generic call to ministry.  He has set each one apart for a very specific purpose to serve in a specific place at a specific time.  God was providential to raise up Esther for “such a time as this” (Esther 4:14).  He was providential to orchestrate Zaccheus’ encounter with the Lord Jesus.  And He is still providential in our appointment to service.

God’s providential activity does not call us to passivity, but it does call us to humble dependence on Him.  Paul’s downwardly mobile ministry assignments landed him in a dungeon prison.  And while he was captive, the Gospel was unleashed through him beyond all boundaries.

Grabbing for new rungs on the leadership ladder has caused many leaders to lose their grip and fall in a corrupt pursuit of more.  Man plans his way, but God directs His steps (Proverbs 16:9).

Corruption is never a big deal at first.  But whenever we normalize a distorted view of ourselves, high cost corruption is sure to follow.