God does not have two standards for people: one for leaders and another for followers. Leaders are not exempt from God’s commands. Rather, they are expected to model what sincere and eager obedience to God looks like. The reason God has such a high standard for leaders, is because the leader’s example and influence has a significant impact on others. If people watch us treating God’s standards carelessly or flippantly, they will assume they can do the same thing with impunity. That is why God expects more of leaders. In fact, He judges them more harshly (James 3:1).
At times we can rationalize why we are not practicing what we are preaching to others. Our schedule is too hectic. We are tired. We intend to make up for lost time later. No one will know. We have already sacrificed enough. We do so many other things in God’s service that we can be excused for this one area of neglect . . .
The truth is that God carefully scrutinizes those He calls to lead. We might be able to fool others with our rhetoric but we do not deceive God for one minute. He knows full well what we have and have not done. He recognizes if our words match our deeds. He can spot a hypocrite a mile away.
Don’t ever think God will treat you less severely since you have done so much for Him. To whom much has been given, much is expected. Just as God raised you up to be a person of spiritual influence for good, so He will deal with you severely if you treat His calling lightly or you fail to bring glory to His name because of your behavior. If the testimony of Scripture and history reveal any truth for us to consider it is this: “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31).