The Traits Of A Godly Leader Series

The Traits of a Godly Leader

Nehemiah 1: 1-4

“Every believer is a minister or servant of God who should be serving God and exerting influence on others through his/her local church. Leadership is one person influencing positively another person. Christian leadership is one believer spiritually impacting others for God’s glory,” Dr. Tim White. (i) Regardless of your status within the church, you have the ability to impact others for the good of the church and the glory of God. We all influence others – either in a positive way or a negative way, but our influence is inevitable.

It is evident that the modern church needs godly leaders. We need those who will rise to the occasion and use their spiritual gifts to influence others in a positive manner. When one considers leadership, there are an abundance of books and materials available for consideration. Of those, none are better than the Old Testament book of Nehemiah. It is a master class study in leadership.

Before we begin to examine the leadership principles recorded in Nehemiah, I want to take a moment to provide the backdrop for the environment in which Nehemiah lived and led others. Because of unrepentant rebellion, the people of Judah had been led captive to Babylon, beginning in 605 BC and Jerusalem was completely destroyed in 586 BC. However, they were not forsaken and God had promised a remnant would return. The return from captivity began with Zerubbabel in 538 BC. Zerubbabel quickly rebuilt the altar, restoring the sacrifices, and began to rebuild the Temple. It wasn’t long until the people met fierce opposition that greatly delayed the rebuilding efforts. In 516 BC, 22 years after their return, the Temple was restored and ready for worship.

The second group returned to Jerusalem about 80 years after the exodus of Zerubbabel’s group. In 458 BC Ezra led a smaller group of Jews back to Jerusalem. Ezra, the priest, had obtained permission from Artaxerxes, King of Persia, to return in order to seek spiritual reform and stir the hearts of the people in revival toward the Lord.

Nehemiah, the cupbearer of King Artaxerxes, returned to Jerusalem in 444 BC with a burden to restore the walls of the city. Nehemiah was not a priest or a prophet. He was a layman with a vision to accomplish a much-needed task for the Lord. Nehemiah’s endeavor reveals many biblical principles for successful, godly leadership. As we begin this series on godly leadership, I want to consider: The Traits of a Godly Leader.

I. A Person of Character (1) – The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace. We find confirmation of Nehemiah’s position within the palace. Notice what we find in V.11 – For I was the king’s cupbearer. Clearly, Nehemiah held a position of prominence. The cupbearer was charged with the responsibility of ensuring that all the king ate or drank was safe and would bring no harm or illness. This is all the more significant when you consider that Nehemiah, being a Jew, was the cupbearer for a Persian king. Being near the king, and holding such an important position, Nehemiah would have been in a position to influence the king.

Reputable character ought to be a visible trait for every believer, especially among those in places of leadership. Like Nehemiah, leaders must possess and show integrity and wisdom, being trustworthy. If one is to lead others, godly character must be shown and modeled for those who follow. Titus 2:7-8 – In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, 8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.

II. A Person of Concern (2) – That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. Keep in mind, Nehemiah is the cupbearer of the king, living within the palace. His position of prominence and influence would have been the envy of many. It would have been easy to have grown complacent and unconcerned about the needs of the Jews, but Nehemiah was genuinely concerned for their well-being. He inquired of how things were progressing in Jerusalem. He didn’t allow his position or prosperity to cause him to lose concern for the people or diminish his desire for the things of God. Godly leaders will possess a concern for the needs of others.

Currently, things are going well for us. We are blessed beyond measure and the Lord is working mightily among us, but we must not allow our blessings to create an attitude of apathy for those around us. All are not blessed as we are. Many are struggling just to maintain their faith. Some are questioning if there is any reason to press on in the journey. Others have yet to respond to the gospel in salvation. We need to be aware of the needs around us. We need to be stirred from our beds of ease and realize that our world is filled with darkness.