Scripture: Nehemiah 5:14-19, 1 Corinthians 3:18-23
As with any organization, the leadership is vital to their success in achieving the goals and targets that have been established for its membership. Without leaders who are focused on guiding the people toward the purpose that they all have committed to, the organization’s efforts will obviously fail miserably in their attempt to be who they should be.
And if leaders fail to live up to the standards that the body has set in place, one of two things need to occur. Either replace the old leaders with new ones who will serve according to the rules that are in place, or else change the group’s guiding principles to reflect a whole new set of guidelines, if that is at all possible.
The second option of changing the entire purpose of the organization, will, in all likelihood, result in creating internal strife, as well as confusion among those who are supposed to be receiving benefit from the service. So, it would appear that if the group’s service efforts are truly important to both the members as well as those who are recipients, a change in leadership would be the only beneficial move.
But what about the efforts that Israel was expending to rebuild and strengthen the city and nation that had always meant so much to them? And what did they do to renew and refocus their efforts?
Read Nehemiah 5:14-16
It would appear that the previous governors were more focused on their own comforts, benefits and authority than they were on governing the people for both the benefit of the king and the regional province. A change in governor may have been a routine occurrence for Artaxerxes, but when Nehemiah was given the authority, he held the position for many years, which is an indication that he was doing a pretty good job, or at least that he was producing good results.
What did he do to make improvements in the administration of Judah? He changed the emphasis from fulfilling his own desires and lining his own pockets, to one that reflected His love and obedience to the Lord God Jehovah, and to give his best to the people and land of Israel. Why should this please the Persian king? It would mean that conflicts would be held to a minimum, even though disagreements between Nehemiah and the ousted leaders may have continued. It would mean that the king could have greater confidence that his governor would be more focused on his responsibilities and less inclined to put himself above his assigned duties.
It would seem that true faith and trust in God makes for the best leaders, even in positions of worldly leadership. Nehemiah stayed focused on “keeping the main thing, the main thing”, which was the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls as the Lord desired. And in response to his example, many others did the same thing – they set themselves lower, and their responsibilities higher. (Luke 14:7-9)
Read Nehemiah 5:17-19
Nehemiah’s leadership began when he approached the king back in Susa to ask permission to journey to Jerusalem to carry out the work that his God was leading him toward. And his servant’s heart never let down. It worked within him on the rebuilding project, it worked to the good of the people when he took that risky step to address the rumors that opposition to the restoration of the wall was growing, it led him to coordinate both the construction and the move toward security for the people, and now we see that it helped him to remain faithful and focused on the guidance that his Lord was showing to him. And through it all, he never even thought about cutting back on the time he spent in prayer with his Lord God Jehovah.
And what came of it? His closest subordinates followed his example to never accept the allowances that had traditionally been used as rewards to the administrators for their service – these men accepted the Lord’s pleasure and blessing as the only reward that they ever needed. They had all that they wanted to eat, all of the very best that they could ever want to drink, and they never had to take any of it from the people, as their predecessors were allowed to do, and fully did all the time. And the people would have seen what their leaders were doing, and would, in turn, have followed to the best of their abilities.
Their focus never waivered from the task at hand – that of rebuilding the city’s walls and restoring a level of security for the people of Israel. Was Nehemiah’s prayer that we read at the conclusion of this passage heard and answered? “Remember me with favor, O my God, for all I have done for these people.” The Lord’s favor will always be granted to His faithful.
The point is, though, that we don’t obey God so that He will bless us with His favors, but rather because it is what He tells us is right. And that is why the Lord gives favor to His faithful.
Read 1 Corinthians 3:18-23
Several hundreds of years later, the apostle Paul is cautioning the Corinthians against thinking too highly of themselves. This will always be the greatest reason for leadership failure – putting ourselves first instead of putting God and the task that He has given us above all else, and then letting the Lord decide what we deserve in return for faithful service!
Our wisdom, our abilities, our plans, our worthiness – none of it has an ounce of value if we aren’t staying close to the call that God has placed on our lives. In Matthew 23:12, Jesus tells us “12 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” And in James 4:6, we read “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” When we reflect on the life of Jesus, we see that these two verses are right on as far as describing how the Lord Jesus lived and served and taught and loved us.
This is exactly how Nehemiah lived and served and governed – faithfully and humbly. Always considering just what his Lord had required of him, to make his life an example for those who were coming behind him.
May we also be the type of living example that Jesus was, and the apostle Paul was, and Governor Nehemiah was. And when we are called to lead, whether on church committees, or as teachers, or Bible study facilitators, or as friends to the hurting, or in any other capacity that the Lord God has need for us, may each of us lead and serve humbly and faithfully, above all else.
