The Only Person Who Can Take You Out of the Game

No level of skill can compensate for a lack of integrity. I learned that lesson firsthand when my sons joined a flag football league at eight years old. My reservations about the league were confirmed the moment I received a “code of conduct,” not for the players, but for the parents. Thankfully, we didn’t collect too many bizarre stories that first year. While their record wasn’t stellar, I loved watching my sons enjoy themselves even in losing situations.

In one close game, one of my sons caught a pass and sprinted for the end zone. As he turned on the jets, he left everyone in his dust. The crowd erupted until I saw his flag fly into the air near the goal line. From my vantage point, I couldn’t imagine who had reached him. Then another parent told me, “No one was close enough to grab it.” He had knocked it out himself. He was running so hard that the only person who could stop him was himself.

I’ve seen that same thing happen too often in ministry and leadership. People run with remarkable success, and the only person close enough to slow them down is themselves. Time after time, gifted people take themselves out of the game because they pull their own flags.

“So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall.” – 1 Corinthians 10:12

• People who walk in crooked ways will always be found out (Proverbs 10:9).
• Corrupt paths usually destroy the person walking them (Proverbs 11:3).
• We’re called to live honorably, with a reputation that matches our character (1 Peter 2:12; 2 Corinthians 8:21; 1 Peter 3:16).
• Those who dwell with God are those who live with integrity (Psalm 15:1–2).
• And if we lack obedience to our convictions, we aren’t deceiving others, we’re deceiving ourselves (James 1:22–25).

Your greatest war might not be with external enemies but with internal ones (James 4:1). You may be talented and capable, and your gifts may have opened many doors for you. But remember this: your talent can take you to a place where your character can’t keep you.

You might be beyond the reach of anyone else grabbing your flag, but the one person who can remove you from the game is yourself. And that’s the greatest tragedy of all.