Much has been written on leadership from a secular viewpoint and from a biblical viewpoint. A quick search through Amazon book titles under the topic of leadership reveals an almost never-ending list of authors, titles, and opinions on leadership. Debates on styles of leadership abound as do styles of leadership. I believe that one of the first books on leadership that I was introduced to while in college in the 1980’s was “In Search of Excellence.” If memory serves me, I think that the book looked at FedEx and US Steel among other companies. I even remember that the class was an operations management class. How did these companies lead, what were the processes they employed to look to succeed, and how they became models of efficiency? I do think that many are familiar with the Book of Nehemiah. Many have written of the leadership qualities of Nehemiah. I am making two observations on leadership that I see the Book of Nehemiah.
Leadership is many things to many people. Leadership success or failure is often based on opinion, and it can often be based on measurables. Was a job completed on time, was a process implemented that improved efficiency, did the leader make a profit, and what I would challenge as the most important aspect, how were people valued? I think that we find in the fourth and fifth chapter of Nehemiah some areas of leadership that must be strongly considered. Are you wondering at this moment or thinking that I left something out of the measurements of leadership? No, I didn’t. Is our leadership pleasing to God and seeking to bring Him glory? If you are in a leadership role, and most are in some way, is the leading about you or about the Lord (after all He placed you where He wanted you)?
In chapter 4 of Nehemiah we read, “Now it came about that when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became furious and very angry and mocked the Jews” (Nehemiah 4:1 NASB). Here is an aspect of leadership; when you seek God in your process and plan, then opposition will come. The reality as you lead people in a manner pleasing to God, that brings God glory, and those you lead closer to God opposition will occur. Look at what happens to Nehemiah and those undertaking the task of rebuilding. “All of them conspired together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause a disturbance in it” (Nehemiah 4:8). I am going to give you a shockingly simple principle in leadership and that is to be prepared for opposition. Of course, when you are prepared you have a plan to overcome. Now remember the opposition sees the progress and spends time conspiring, getting angry, and as God’s word states mocking. Have an action plan and move forward in it. That actually means push ahead and work as preparation is made in prayer to the Lord. “But we prayed to our God, and because of them we set up a guard against them day and night” (Nehemiah 4:9). Be prepared and remember as we read, “Our God will fight for us” (Nehemiah 4:20).
The second biblical principle that I will cover here in the area of leadership is that we must model to others the godly way. Gossip was directed at Nehemiah and the Jewish people in regard to their actions. They were accused of abusing the system of securing food and financial mismanagement. These were untruths as we read in Nehemiah 5. Nehemiah stood up to the lies and fought back. Nehemiah was able to support his arguments against the charges that were baseless, as the people and he had honored what was right. Nehemiah led by example. We must be above reproach in our actions as leaders. Nehemiah was not as concerned about answering to the Sanballats and Tobiahs, but rather he knew that he could stand before God and answer to the accusations and gossip brought against, he and God’s people. “Remember me, O my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people” (Nehemiah 5:19).
Nehemiah was a leader set before us in God’s word as a model for us to follow. May our prayers always be to become more Christ-like in all we do, and may we honor God for all the opportunities He gives us to serve Him.