Fudge Factor 2 -- Conflict of Interest

A couple of weeks ago the “reality” show The Bachelorette got hit with a massive does of real reality.

-25 men… 1 girl… she eliminates men each week… ending up with final two men… and the one she picks, proposes and they get engaged to be married.

Tyler… and Jed.

She picks Jed.

Show People Magazine cover

Come to find out… Jed has another girl friend. In fact, a few other girl friends.

Jed claims he didn’t actually go onto the show to find a wife.. he went on the show to… you guessed it… expand his music career!

(That’s a little like going on the voice to find a wife)

Then love hit… and he found himself with this massive CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

JED, our newest favorite villian, introduces us to today’s Fudge Factor — CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

Play Conflict of Interest Clip (7 min long)

Two stories of conflict of interest… and two villians.

Some of you have been in that spot… as the villian.

You have played one side against the other… whether intentionally or not… and it all piled up on you.

What happens when a Conflict of Interest emerges and the one(s) peddling the dishonesty are the “good guys”?

This leads to the Bible character serving us our fudge today: Jonathan, son of King Saul… best friend of eventual King David.

Tell story of &

Michal — Saul & David (19)

Jonathan (20)

Michal — loved her father and loved David...

1 sam 19.11-

1 Samuel 19:11–17 ESV

11 Saul sent messengers to David’s house to watch him, that he might kill him in the morning. But Michal, David’s wife, told him, “If you do not escape with your life tonight, tomorrow you will be killed.” 12 So Michal let David down through the window, and he fled away and escaped. 13 Michal took an image and laid it on the bed and put a pillow of goats’ hair at its head and covered it with the clothes. 14 And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, “He is sick.” 15 Then Saul sent the messengers to see David, saying, “Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may kill him.” 16 And when the messengers came in, behold, the image was in the bed, with the pillow of goats’ hair at its head. 17 Saul said to Michal, “Why have you deceived me thus and let my enemy go, so that he has escaped?” And Michal answered Saul, “He said to me, ‘Let me go. Why should I kill you?’ ”

Jonathan — loved his father and loved David

David comes to tell Jonathan — ‘your father is aiming to kill me.’

1 samuel 20

1 Samuel 20:24–34 ESV

24 So David hid himself in the field. And when the new moon came, the king sat down to eat food. 25 The king sat on his seat, as at other times, on the seat by the wall. Jonathan sat opposite, and Abner sat by Saul’s side, but David’s place was empty. 26 Yet Saul did not say anything that day, for he thought, “Something has happened to him. He is not clean; surely he is not clean.” 27 But on the second day, the day after the new moon, David’s place was empty. And Saul said to Jonathan his son, “Why has not the son of Jesse come to the meal, either yesterday or today?” 28 Jonathan answered Saul, “David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem. 29 He said, ‘Let me go, for our clan holds a sacrifice in the city, and my brother has commanded me to be there. So now, if I have found favor in your eyes, let me get away and see my brothers.’ For this reason he has not come to the king’s table.” 30 Then Saul’s anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said to him, “You son of a perverse, rebellious woman, do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame, and to the shame of your mother’s nakedness? 31 For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, neither you nor your kingdom shall be established. Therefore send and bring him to me, for he shall surely die.” 32 Then Jonathan answered Saul his father, “Why should he be put to death? What has he done?” 33 But Saul hurled his spear at him to strike him. So Jonathan knew that his father was determined to put David to death. 34 And Jonathan rose from the table in fierce anger and ate no food the second day of the month, for he was grieved for David, because his father had disgraced him.

We tend to think that that those with a conflict of interest end up as villains… and sometimes they are.

We have all been such a villain!

But sometimes those with a conflict of interest see themselves as good people — maybe even heroes.

If I were to ask you in these two stories who the heroes of these stories were you would say… right… Michal and Jonathan.

And they were the two who were… dishonest.

Some are dishonest in a conflict of interest to either continue or hide something that is wrong...

Some are dishonest in a conflict of interest to contend for something that is right...

How do you decide what to do?

“Ken, are you saying it is ok to be dishonest?”

I am not… what would have happened… how would God have delivered David if there had been no dishonesty?

We don’t know. Which is unfortunate.

“I am here today in a conflict of interest, and the truth is, if I come clean, I’m not only going to be seen as a villain, I kind of am a villain.”

Confession is better than getting caught.

1 John 1:5–9 ESV

5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1.

James 5:16 ESV

16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

I am caught in a conflict of interest for the sake of a good cause, good people, and good purposes.

Proverbs 3:1–12 ESV

1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, 2 for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. 3 Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. 7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. 8 It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. 9 Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; 10 then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine. 11 My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, 12 for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.

Prov 3.1