This morning I read a blog post that included a quote that absolutely stopped me in my tracks.

Your failure can be as influential as your faithfulness.

Whoa. As a leader, this brutal reality scares me. But, I have seen the truth of it play out in the lives of various leaders throughout the years, and it is devastating to watch. Many times, a leader's failure falls into one of 4 categories my pastor exposed to me years ago, and I will write about them here in such a way that encourages both you and I to avoid them at all costs!

1. SILVER

Are you managing money responsibly? Whether it be your personal finances or the finances of the organization you lead, are you handling finances with integrity? Are you overspending? Are you stealing? Are you getting yourself deeper into debt? Are you making efforts to get yourself out of debt? Are you reporting income? Are you avoiding paying taxes? If I had a video camera on how you were stewarding your financial resources, would there be anything for you to be ashamed of?

Leader, handle your finances with integrity because failure here will surely destroy your leadership legacy regardless of your faithfulness elsewhere. It's not a matter of if, but when!

2. SEX

Are you being sexually immoral? Whether you are married or not, are you pursuing sexual purity? Do you have a healthy sex life with your spouse? Are you addicted to pornography? Are you developing inappropriate emotional or physical relationships? Are you having sex outside of the context of marriage? Do you find yourself spending time on social media or the internet viewing inappropriate images and videos? If I had a video camera on how you were behaving sexually, would there be anything for you to be ashamed of?

Leader, pursue sexual purity because failure here will surely destroy your leadership legacy regardless of your faithfulness elsewhere. It's not a matter of if, but when!

3. SLOTH

Are you lazy? Whether you work from home or work in an office, are you working the hours for which you are getting paid? Are you doing the minimum amount that your job requires? Do you look for ways to do the least amount of work in the most amount of time? Are you lying about the work you are actually getting done? Are you constantly procrastinating? If I had a video camera on your work ethic on the job, would there be anything for you to be ashamed of?

Leader, work hard because failure here will surely destroy your leadership legacy regardless of your faithfulness elsewhere. It's not a matter of it, but when!

4. SELF

Are you prideful? Whether outwardly or inwardly, are you aware of your unhealthy attitudes of pride? Can you admit when you're wrong? Are you able to take correction and discipline from others? Are you able to receive direction and guidance from others? Are you able to forgive? Can you sincerely apologize without making excuses? Is your pride something you can swallow or something that you are compelled to protect?

Leader, embrace humility because failure here will surely destroy your leadership legacy regardless of your faithfulness elsewhere. It's not a matter of if, but when!

Here's the deal. If you find yourself struggling with any of the four pitfalls above the best thing you can do for yourself is this: TELL SOMEONE, AND GET SOME HELP...NOW!

This is urgent. Continuing to succumb to these pitfalls will absolutely end your leadership journey, but more importantly they will destroy your life.

I pray this final blunt statement will compel you to deal with these pitfalls accordingly:

As it relates to certain repeated failures, though GRACE from God is AVAILABLE, DISQUALIFICATION from your position is INEVITABLE.