This past weekend the luxury cruise ship Costa Concordia capsized and partially sank off the coast of Italy. Of the 4,200 people on board, 5 have been confirmed dead so far, and 15 others are listed as missing.

Authorities are holding the captain of the ship, as an investigation begins to determine whether or not he was responsible to some degree for this horrible event.

Paul warned Timothy that some people had shipwrecked their faith because they had rejected faith and a good conscience. Scripture urges us to hold onto these qualities (1 Timothy 1:18-20).

Many times when people shipwreck their own faith, they harm many innocent people in the process. This is tragic.

We can learn a lesson in leadership from this. It is critical that we make sure that the local congregation is being steered by competent leaders who have been called by God to lead the church. I have seen churches turned on their side because unspiritual people have been allowed to take the wheel.

Perhaps the best lesson to take away from this is a personal one. Hold on to your faith with a good conscience. If you do so, the boat may rock occasionally, but you will never find yourself shipwrecked along life’s journey.