"THE DAVID DILEMMA"

Character is essential, but it is never enough.

It’s the David Dilemma. Every person, regardless of how strong their character, will be promoted beyond what their character can support.

He was a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22). This is why God chose David. In 1 Samuel 16:7, He told
the prophet Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature... for the LORD does not see
as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." Obviously, the Lord saw something pure and upright about David that qualified him to be king.

Unfortunately, David was still a man. As good as his character may have been, he was still a depraved, fallen creature. As such, he was subject to the corruption that often comes with absolute authority.

It’s the peril of our insidious, human nature. Jeremiah 17:9 says, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked." As good as one may be, if there are no restraints or restrictions upon him or her, if a person is free to act without any accountability or answerability, that person will be corrupted by his own depraved desires and driven to satisfy his own carnal interests. It is a sad fact of human nature, power without accountability corrupts.

The failures of King David, the man after God’s own heart, demonstrates why leaders, even good leaders, need structures of accountability. Transparency, reportability, fiduciarity, humility, collegiality all work together to provide the leader with the structures needed to maintain his integrity—and his credibility.

Leadership without accountability is leadership without credibility. Structures of accountability are not meant to hinder leaders or hold them back, they are meant to empower leaders and propel them forward. They are guardrails keeping leaders centered and secure. Followers, investors, employees who see leaders with such guardrails will be more inclined to trust them and follow wherever they may lead.

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