Nehemiah: An Excellent Role Model For Christian Leaders
In Nehemiah’s memoirs of his Jerusalem venture we find a model leader who embraces God’s sovereign rule while accepting full responsibility for his work. Faced with a threat (Nehemiah 4:7-9), He prayed. No book in the Bible contains more evidence of a person who was consciously dependent on God. And yet Nehemiah’s diary account reveals a brilliant leader manager who practices the ageless principles of management.
TEACHING DELIVERED BY PASTOR SAMUEL ABEJIDE AKOLO FCIT, FCA, PhD, LAWNA TERRITORIAL FINANCE SECRETARY, DURING THE LAGOS METROPOLITAN AREAS MINISTERS’ MONTHLY FELLOWSHIP MEETING HELD ON WEDNESDAY, 3RD JULY 2024 AT THE NATIONAL TEMPLE, INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION GROUNDS, OLORUNDA KETU, LAGOS STATE, AT 10:00 AM
TOPIC: NEHEMIAH: AN EXCELLENT ROLE MODEL FOR CHRISTIAN LEADERS
SCRIPTURE READING: Nehemiah 1:1-11
Text: Nehemiah 2:3 “And said unto the king, Let the king live forever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my father’s sepulchers, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fires?”
Christian Leadership is the process of influencing and guiding others in a way that reflects Christian values and principles, with the goal of achieving a common vision or goals that. honours God and benefits others.
Key aspects of Christian leadership include but not limited to the following:
1. Servant Leadership: Prioritizing the needs of others and serving them with humility and love (Mark 10: 42-45; John 13:1-17).
2. Spiritual Guidance: Providing guidance and direction based on biblical principles and spiritual discernment (Deut. 31:8; Isaiah 30:21, 42:16; Psalm 32:8).
3. Integrity and Character: Demonstrating consistency between words and actions, and living with integrity, honesty, and transparency (Pro. 10:9; 1 Timothy 3:8-13).
4. Compassion and Empathy: Showing care and concern for others, and being able to understand and relate to their needs and struggles (Matthew 9:36; Luke 10:25-37).
5. Vision and Purpose: Having a clear sense of direction and purpose that aligns with God’s will and kingdom values (Proverbs 29:18; Habakkuk 2:2-4).
6. Collaboration and Team Work: Building and working with teams to achieve common goals and objectives (Heb. 10:24-25; I Cor. 12:4-6; I Thess. 5:11).
7. Stewardships and Accountability: Recognizing that resources and talents are entrusted by God, and being accountable for their use and management (Matthew 25:14-30; I Corinthians 4:2, 13:1-3; Hebrews 4:12-13).
8. Humility and Dependence on God: Acknowledging one’s limitations and dependence on God’s wisdom, guidance, and strength (Matt. 20:26-28; Phil 2:3-4; Pro. 3:5-6).
A Christian Leader is a person who, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, partners with others to achieve a common goal, serving others by leading and leading others by serving.
A Christian Leader is a servant of God. He may lead people but he is accountable to God who has called him, has sent him and empowers him. Unless Christian Leaders recognize that they are servants of the Lord and ultimately responsible to Him for their exercise of leadership, they will fail in ministry.
A Christian Leader is a servant of the Church. Service to the people is a style of leadership that should inform and enlighten all Church leadership in their category in the church. The purpose and goal in Christian leadership is not personal kingdom-building or self- advancement. It is ultimately serving the living God who chooses you; and secondly, it is serving God’s people and not yourself.
Characteristics of a Christian Leader:
- Motivated by love and a sense of purpose.
- Prioritizes people and relationship.
- Emphasizes integrity, credibility, and trustworthiness.
- Serves others and influences them to achieve their goals.
- Follows Christ’s examples and guides others to do the same.
- Exhibits humility and modesty.
- Committed to self-development and spiritual growth.
- Corrects others in a gentle and respectful manner.
- Values integrity and practices what they preach.
Role model implies a person who serves as an example or inspiration to others, embodying desirable qualities, values, and behaviours that others aspire to emulate. A role model can be someone who: Demonstrates excellence in their field or profession; Exhibits positive character traits like integrity, compassion, and kindness; Overcomes challenges and adversity with resilience and determination; Inspires others through their achievements, talents, or accomplishments; Embodies values like honesty, fairness, and responsibility; Provides guidance, support, and mentorship to others; Consistently acts with integrity, authenticity, and humility.
NEHEMIAH: AN EXCELLENT ROLE MODEL FOR CHRISTIAN LEADERS
In Nehemiah’s memoirs of his Jerusalem venture we find a model leader who embraces God’s sovereign rule while accepting full responsibility for his work. Faced with a threat (Nehemiah 4:7-9), He prayed. No book in the Bible contains more evidence of a person who was consciously dependent on God. And yet Nehemiah’s diary account reveals a brilliant leader manager who practices the ageless principles of management.
Nehemiah’s account begins in 445 B.C. when he learnt of the frightful conditions of the Jewish exiles who had returned to Jerusalem. Without a wall built around the City of Jerusalem, the people were under continual harassment by their enemies. The account of Nehemiah’s response to this dismal report from Jerusalem displays a model of leadership from which every Christian leader should learn.
Note the following attributes of leadership in the life of Nehemiah drawn from his memoirs (Neh. 4:8ff):
1. Vision and purpose. He had a clear vision to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls and a strong sense of purpose, driven by faith in God (Neh. 1:4-11; 2:1-8).
2. Manifestation of an unselfish concern for God’s people. He served in the elevated and comfortable position, as cupbearer to King Artaxerxes I of Persia. He was far from their difficulties. Upon hearing the travail of his people, he sat down and wept and mourned for days, fasting and praying (Neh. 1:4). Unselfishness in wanting to help others is the trait of a godly leader (1 Peter 5:2).
3. He identified with his people. Instead of condemning and distancing himself from them he identifies himself with them, even with sins committed when he was not yet born (Neh. 1:6-7)
4. Total dependence on prayer and spiritual guidance. He sought God’s guidance and wisdom through prayer, demonstrating the importance of spiritual discernment in leadership (Neh. 1:4-11; 2:4).
5. Personal relationship with God. This is evident in his prayer life and in his understanding of God (Neh. 1:5-11). A personal relationship with God includes a deep theological understanding of who God is: His majesty and splendor, His righteousness and holiness, His mercy and grace, His unfailing love and redemption, and His faithfulness – all found in this simple prayer.
6. A man with courageous faith and perseverance (Neh. 2:10-20; 4:1-23). Despite facing opposition and challenges, he remained courageous and persevered, inspiring his team to continue to work.
7. Understood God’s gracious favour on him (Neh. 2:8. Repeatedly, throughout his memoirs, he acknowledged that all the successful turn of events were due to God’s gracious hand of favour. When some leaders experience success, they were filled with vain conceit and pride, failing to recognize and acknowledge that success comes from God.
8. An extensive researcher. When he first heard of the difficult situation in Jerusalem from eye witnesses, he question them to understand the situation better (Neh. 1:2- 3)
9. He displayed a decisive will and call to action. A leader not only think and pray, plan and research, he must be decisive and act like a leader. After much thinking, praying, planning and researching, he steps forward to communicate the plan of action to deal with the trouble in Jerusalem (Neh. 2:17-18).
10. Leadership by Example (Neh. 4:9-10; 5:14-16). He led by example, working alongside his people and demonstrating his commitment to the project
11. Empowerment and delegation (Neh. 3:1-32). He delegated tasks and empowered others to take ownership, demonstrating effective leadership and team building.
12. Integrity and Accountability (Neh. 5:1-23; 13:1-3). He demonstrated integrity and accountability, addressing corruption and ensuring fairness and justice 13.Passion and motivation (Neh. 1:4-11; 2:1-8). His passion and motivation inspired others to join the effort, demonstrating the importance of a leader’s enthusiasm and energy.
14. He overcame hindrances. He and his people prayed and posted guard day and night to mitigate the threat from the enemies (Neh. 4:9). He was both devout and practical.
15. Demonstration of humility by attributing all praises to God. He repeatedly attributes his success to the gracious hand of God (Neh. 5:15f; 6:16; 7:5; 12:27-40). When a Christian leader humbles himself before God and attributes all success to God’s gracious hand, the Lord will lift him up (James 4:10).
Conclusion
Spirituality is fundamental but it is not a substitute for management skills. Nehemiah provides us a model that combines extraordinary faith in God with extraordinary practical management skills.
Nehemiah’s leadership qualities and actions offer valuable lessons for Christian leaders, emphasizing the importance of vision, prayer, courage, leadership by example, empowerment, integrity, and passion in effective ministry and leadership.
