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“Leadership Goals” by Kirk Hunt
And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.
Nehemiah 5:1 KJV
Nehemiah’s Jerusalem was a fixer-upper at best. Jerusalem, the capital of the restored nation, remained a wall-less, gate-less, half-ruined city (Nehemiah 1:3). The people in general were surrounded by hostile nations and individuals, like Sanballat and Tobiah (Nehemiah 2:10). Worst of all, the Jews were generally impoverished.
What would you expect of the nobles and rulers, the Jewish leadership, in a situation like this? Would they be fierce and selflessly focused on rebuilding the wealth and capacity of the nation? Would their every waking thought be bent toward the restoration of the nation and the wellbeing of the people?
The rulers and nobles, the leadership of the Jews, were enriching themselves. Wealth gained at the expense of their vulnerable kindred and countrymen. It was not enough that they were taking title to all of the farms and vineyards in the area (Nehemiah 5:5). They were forcing the sale of sons and daughters, nephews and nieces, into slavery.
Leadership is about achieving good for the organization (nation, business, family). Leaders are supposed to be concerned with making things better for those lead. Then, as now, some will selfishly exploit their positions of trust and privilege.
You lead someone, somewhere to some place. At home, on the job or even at Church, someone trusts you to lead with integrity and wisdom. Who is gaining (or losing) because of your leadership?
Think: Do I lead for God’s goals or my own?
Pray: “Lord, help me to lead in Your truth and wisdom.”
Copyright © October 2013, Kirk Hunt
This devotional is a ministry of https://devotionals.cadremenpress.com.