What Faith Teaches Us About Leading with Integrity: Prioritizing God in a World of Competing Demands.
When you think of the "Rich Young Ruler," don’t be quick to dismiss it because you don’t see yourself in the title. This story isn’t limited to wealth, youth, or leadership status—it speaks to the heart of every faith-driven leader. The core question is simple: What do you prioritize? Is it God, or is it something else—like success, power, or even comfort?
This idea calls us to reflect on the difficult choices we face as leaders. Are we truly willing to set aside our comfort and security to follow God’s calling, even if it might cost us? It's a question that challenges each of us to examine where our heart lies in the midst of our work, especially when faith and worldly success are at odds.
The Biblical Lesson of the Rich Young Ruler
The story of the Rich Young Ruler, found in Matthew, Mark, and Luke, shows a young man asking Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus challenges him to sell all he has, give it to the poor, and follow Him. The young man, unable to part with his wealth, walks away saddened. The story highlights a powerful lesson—no matter how much we accomplish or how faithful we believe we are, what we truly prioritize reveals where our heart lies.
Oswald Chambers reminds us, "The greatest concern of life is to place our relationship with God first, and everything else second." The rich young ruler struggled with this, as many of us do. It’s not just about money; it’s about what we hold onto that prevents us from fully committing to God.
Disordered Priorities in Business
In business, it’s easy to get caught up in pursuing worldly success and labeling it as “doing good.” But no one can serve two masters. You may claim faith as a priority, but if your actions continually prioritize business over God, you risk becoming like the rich young ruler—holding tightly to something that isn't eternal.
Greg McKeown, in his book Essentialism, explains that "priority" originally meant the first and only thing. Today, we often speak of “multiple priorities,” but that contradicts the original meaning. In truth, only one thing can come first. When your faith-driven leadership is out of alignment with
biblical priorities, it creates disordered priorities—putting worldly success over God’s call.
What Do You Really Value?
The challenge of the Rich Young Ruler story is understanding that what we value most will inevitably shape our decisions. As leaders, we must continually assess: What is my real priority? Is it money, status, or something that will fade? Or is it God and the eternal?
The Bible shows time and again that God asks His followers to put Him first—even if it means sacrificing what seems most important. Abraham was willing to give up Isaac, trusting that God’s plan was greater. Jesus challenges us to be willing to sacrifice everything, even relationships and success, for His kingdom.
Leading with Faithful Integrity
True faith-driven leadership is about adopting a WHO identity, rooted in who we are in relation to God, rather than a WHAT identity tied to our roles in the world. This means placing God as the ultimate priority and letting everything else—our work, relationships, and success—flow from that.
Humility, trust, patience, and prayer are keys to maintaining this priority. Humility to seek God’s wisdom, trust in His process, patience to wait for His timing, and prayer to stay connected to His will. When we put God first, everything else will align according to His purpose.
So, ask yourself: Are you a rich young ruler? Or are you a leader prioritizing God in every aspect of your life and business?
Let’s commit to faithful integrity, making God our ultimate priority, knowing that this is the foundation of true success in life and business.
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