Are there situations where you and I face a conflict of self-interest in our profession? What is the difference between conflict and interest? Why our self-concern conflicts in an organizations’ leadership? How can we recognize the conflict of self-interest in the leadership? Why is selfishness not only unethical in the leadership of an organization but also punishable under certain civil laws in the court?
These questions we usually come across with our job interview, full-time employment or business practices. In fact, like most of you, I also face these situations in my profession in the corporate world; however, till this day, by the grace of God, in spite of personal hardships, I’m able to follow a non-conflict of interest principle in my work.
As we know that the conflict of interest is the situation in which a person or leadership can be motivated to become corrupt by focusing on self-interest rather than organizational, public or community’s interest. I’m sure like me, many of you also have heard and witnessed how a self-interested leadership in many for-profit and non-profit organizations not only destroyed a number of jobs, family lives, communities, church congregation but also ruined the overall organization’s name and reputation.
It’s a known fact that non-conflict of interest practice in any public work, profession or leadership is not the only ethical but also helps to produce fruitful results for the present and future generations benefit. For believers, the leadership is known by the tree and its fruits. I think Jesus Christ has provided us a simple solution to recognize and identify the tree and by its fruits as he stated that: “You Will Know Them by Their Fruits (Mat. 7:16 NKJV),” and “A Good Tree Cannot Bear Bad Fruit, Nor Can A Bad Tree Bear Good Fruit (Mat. 7:18 NKJV).”
We know that unethical business practice can result in the prosecution in a civil court, but for Christians’ there is a strong warning given by Jesus Christ, that is, “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire (Mat.7:19 NKJV).” This is worse than the civil court punishment!
There are a number of great leaders in the world who became the role model in a non-conflict of interest effort. One of them is John Wesley, the founder of “Methodism.” His unselfish leadership practices produced fruitful results for all generations across the world. In fact, I’m one of the beneficiaries of his fruit; therefore, I admire him.
Few recent incidents and situations have forced us to examine the main trees for its fruit since no new good fruits are being produced and given to the needy people. It appears that self-centered trees have produced bad fruits, and its rotten seeds are destroying the surrounding areas for future growth.
Are we doing what the first Christian converts (Acts 2: 41-47NKJV) did in the 1st century? If not, let us strive and challenge our self in distributing good fruits to people who need it badly, not only in the cities but other remote places too! Please share your comments and thoughts. Appreciated.