Developing Kingdom Leaders – Tom Yeakley

Taking the Mystery out of Leadership

Archive for the tag “compromising”

23 Feb 2026

Watch Out for the Little Foxes!

Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes that spoil the vineyards, for our vineyards are in blossom. Song of Songs 2:15 ESV

The Bible has a lot to say about money and how to handle it in in a God-honoring way.  Jesus says that how we handle our money will determine how much God entrusts His Kingdom assets to us. 

We remember that money in and of itself is morally neutral – not good, bad, or purple.  But it is the love of money which is the root of all kinds of evil. 1 Timothy 6:10  For those who love money will love this world and its values.  They will seek to accumulate as much money as possible, finding their hope and security in their net worth.  And this then can lead to taking advantage of others, cheating on tax returns, pursuing get rich quick schemes, leading to being distrusted by God.  For He says, “…if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?” 

It is the small compromises in money manners that trip us up.  When dealing with money, be careful to avoid any appearance of impropriety.  And be on your guard when you hear an internal voice say, “Oh, that such a small thing, don’t worry about it” or “Don’t be so obsessive about that.  Everyone else is doing it” or “It’s just not that big of a deal.”  There are no small matters when it comes to integrity!

Do you want to have a legacy that reaches to the ends of the earth for the glory of God?  If so, Jesus reminds us that much integrity we have when handling money will determine whether God can entrust us with much more important, eternal things like the souls of men and women.

Watch for the ‘little foxes’ that creep in and spoil the vineyard!

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27 Jan 2025

People Pleasing and Compromising

Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10 NIV

Everyone wants to be well thought of by others. And Kingdom leaders are no exception. We value the approval of others, especially the approval of those we are leading. But if we are not careful, we will begin to seek the approval of others at the expense of the approval of God. It can be a fine line between conviction and compromise.

Paul was taking the risk of offending the Galatian believers by pointing out his bold and courageous stand for the truth of the gospel he had delivered to them. This gospel message was not accompanied by other rules and regulations found in the Jewish Law. It was a matter of faith and belief in Jesus that brought their forgiveness and salvation, not the circumcision of the flesh or obedience to dietary laws or celebration of certain Jewish feasts.

Today Kingdom leaders face similar challenges when it comes to standing for the truth found in God’s Word as opposed by others who would seek to accommodate this with cultural additions. It will take boldness and courage to lead into the societal headwinds and cultural tides of our day. It will also take Kingdom leaders who are well-versed in the Bible and its application to steer a path through the cultural mine fields of our times.

May we all seek to please God and Him alone, regardless of whether we are approved by others, knowing that ‘… wisdom is proved right by all her children.” Luke 7:35 NIV

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