As a bank executive I was required to complete an annual conflict of interest report for our bank regulators. This report was looking for any affiliations and any financial transactions I was involved in with outside organizations that may also have a relationship with the bank.
Although it felt like an invasion of privacy, I recognized it to be an effective tool to hold bank executives accountable. I became more thoughtful about my outside relationships.
Conflicts of interest can be very subtle and become blind spots.
Romans 3:20 says, "Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God's sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin."
Rules and regulations are sometimes necessary so that we can become conscious of our sin.
