When I was a kid we played a game called "Follow the Leader". A ‘leader’ was chosen and we would all line up behind the leader and follow the ‘leader’ around. When the ‘leader’ did something, each person in line had to do the EXACT same thing. Those who did not mimic the leader were ‘out of the game’. When only one person was left other than the leader, that person then became the ‘leader’. We had a lot of fun and used to play that game for hours! Yes, back in those days there were no video games!
But as I matured and my walk with Christ became deeper, I came to understand that we should not necessarily mimic all leaders. Unlike the kid’s game where everyone did what the leader did, in real life, we must look at ‘leaders’ in a different light. That is, where does the leader stand relative to God’s definition of a leader? Is the leader of strong moral and ethical standing? Is the leader consistent in their actions? Does the leader lead by action or does the leader only direct others in actions? Is the leader courageous in their stand for God’s principles? Does the leader accept responsibility for their actions?
God lays out the requirements of a leader in the Bible. Where else could we expect the qualities of a leader to be defined? A leader is one who goes "into the battle first" and leads by example. When I first started my career, I had a boss who was a terrific motivator. He would come down to the area where I worked every day and sit and talk with the group I worked in about what was going on in the factory. He would leave after that 45-minute session and the entire group was energized and ready to go for the day! It wasn’t until later that I ‘got it’. What my boss was actually doing was leading by example. My boss was "in the fray" with us. He never asked us to do anything he himself would not have done. He encouraged us when we needed it. He corrected us when we needed it. He was faithful to us regardless of the mistakes we made. Those are important traits for a leader. Why? They are traits of God. God encourages us, corrects us, and is faithful to us. Who better to follow than God?
My former boss was a Nehemiah. He ‘talked to God’ and he ‘walked with God’. It was obvious in his every day work. Like ‘Nehemiah’, my boss had a bigger vision. One that was bigger than himself. He saw the need for all the employees to prosper and do well. Unfortunately, many of ‘leaders’ today are not walking in the light of God and are not concerned with those who they lead. Corruption, greed, and self-gratification have infected many of our leaders and many people suffer for this. Historically, God has amazingly used common, everyday folks to carry out His plan. God takes people who have certain personality traits and He molds them and trains them so that they carry out tasks they never thought possible!
Nehemiah was such a leader. God used Nehemiah to perform an ‘impossible’ task. Nehemiah was a man of character who prayed with persistence. Nehemiah’s life lesson to us is to pray as the first step in anything that we do. Nehemiah was an example to us that a true leader talks to God and walks with God.
On the other end of the spectrum was Solomon. Solomon was a brilliant man. But as a leader, Solomon knew was the right things to do were but failed to do them. If leaders know what actions should be taken but lack the will to execute these actions, they are not true leaders. Solomon is remembered as the wisest man who ever lived. But, Solomon’s personal life (marrying pagan women, building shrines for his wives’ ‘gods’, etc.) severely impacted his ability to lead in a way pleasing to God. Solomon burdened the people with excessive taxation and labor. People came from foreign lands to admire Solomon and visit with him while Solomon’s own people withdrew from him.
Summarily, Solomon had all the gifts to be a great leader but he didn’t walk with God. Nehemiah had all the gifts to be a great leader and he did walk with God. Both men accomplished great feats in their leadership positions. But who was the better leader? Nehemiah, who served God in leading the people in building the wall around Jerusalem or Solomon, who neglected God’s ways in order to build the Temple? The answer is evident. God expects each of us to lead. When we accept Jesus Christ into our lives as our Redeemer, Scripture tells us that the Holy Spirit places spiritual gifts upon us. These spiritual gifts vary from person to person however God intends us to use them; not just possess them. We each lead with our actions whether we realize it or not. Are we walking with God? Are we talking with God? Do we act based on our personal relationship with God? True leaders lead via a personal commitment and relationship with God. Are we Nehemiah’s or Solomon’s?
Papa Joe Mac's Commentary:
When I was a kid we played a game called "Follow the Leader". A ‘leader’ was chosen and we would all line up behind the leader and follow the ‘leader’ around. When the ‘leader’ did something, each person in line had to do the EXACT same thing. Those who did not mimic the leader were ‘out of the game’. When only one person was left other than the leader, that person then became the ‘leader’. We had a lot of fun and used to play that game for hours! Yes, back in those days there were no video games!
But as I matured and my walk with Christ became deeper, I came to understand that we should not necessarily mimic all leaders. Unlike the kid’s game where everyone did what the leader did, in real life, we must look at ‘leaders’ in a different light. That is, where does the leader stand relative to God’s definition of a leader? Is the leader of strong moral and ethical standing? Is the leader consistent in their actions? Does the leader lead by action or does the leader only direct others in actions? Is the leader courageous in their stand for God’s principles? Does the leader accept responsibility for their actions?
God lays out the requirements of a leader in the Bible. Where else could we expect the qualities of a leader to be defined? A leader is one who goes "into the battle first" and leads by example. When I first started my career, I had a boss who was a terrific motivator. He would come down to the area where I worked every day and sit and talk with the group I worked in about what was going on in the factory. He would leave after that 45-minute session and the entire group was energized and ready to go for the day! It wasn’t until later that I ‘got it’. What my boss was actually doing was leading by example. My boss was "in the fray" with us. He never asked us to do anything he himself would not have done. He encouraged us when we needed it. He corrected us when we needed it. He was faithful to us regardless of the mistakes we made. Those are important traits for a leader. Why? They are traits of God. God encourages us, corrects us, and is faithful to us. Who better to follow than God?
My former boss was a Nehemiah. He ‘talked to God’ and he ‘walked with God’. It was obvious in his every day work. Like ‘Nehemiah’, my boss had a bigger vision. One that was bigger than himself. He saw the need for all the employees to prosper and do well. Unfortunately, many of ‘leaders’ today are not walking in the light of God and are not concerned with those who they lead. Corruption, greed, and self-gratification have infected many of our leaders and many people suffer for this. Historically, God has amazingly used common, everyday folks to carry out His plan. God takes people who have certain personality traits and He molds them and trains them so that they carry out tasks they never thought possible!
Nehemiah was such a leader. God used Nehemiah to perform an ‘impossible’ task. Nehemiah was a man of character who prayed with persistence. Nehemiah’s life lesson to us is to pray as the first step in anything that we do. Nehemiah was an example to us that a true leader talks to God and walks with God.
On the other end of the spectrum was Solomon. Solomon was a brilliant man. But as a leader, Solomon knew was the right things to do were but failed to do them. If leaders know what actions should be taken but lack the will to execute these actions, they are not true leaders. Solomon is remembered as the wisest man who ever lived. But, Solomon’s personal life (marrying pagan women, building shrines for his wives’ ‘gods’, etc.) severely impacted his ability to lead in a way pleasing to God. Solomon burdened the people with excessive taxation and labor. People came from foreign lands to admire Solomon and visit with him while Solomon’s own people withdrew from him.
Summarily, Solomon had all the gifts to be a great leader but he didn’t walk with God. Nehemiah had all the gifts to be a great leader and he did walk with God. Both men accomplished great feats in their leadership positions. But who was the better leader? Nehemiah, who served God in leading the people in building the wall around Jerusalem or Solomon, who neglected God’s ways in order to build the Temple? The answer is evident. God expects each of us to lead. When we accept Jesus Christ into our lives as our Redeemer, Scripture tells us that the Holy Spirit places spiritual gifts upon us. These spiritual gifts vary from person to person however God intends us to use them; not just possess them. We each lead with our actions whether we realize it or not. Are we walking with God? Are we talking with God? Do we act based on our personal relationship with God? True leaders lead via a personal commitment and relationship with God. Are we Nehemiah’s or Solomon’s?