Fulfilling God’s Purpose Through Effective Leadership - John Houston
Effective leadership is essential if we want to help our teams be successful. I’ve found encouragement from the biblical example of Nehemiah. He demonstrated remarkable leadership, characterized by his ability to pray, trust God’s wisdom, delegate tasks and empower others, all with the ultimate goal of bringing glory to God.
To summarize Nehemiah's story, Jerusalem had a temple, but there was no protection to shield the people from enemy attacks. Nehemiah was a cupbearer for the king of Persia. After seeking God in prayer and asking for the king’s permission, he traveled to Jerusalem and rallied a citywide construction crew to rebuild the temple. Within a few weeks, the walls around Jerusalem were built, and Israel’s enemies lost their confidence and retreated.
A key aspect of Nehemiah’s leadership was His skillful delegation.
Nehemiah demonstrated trust in the abilities of those around him. He recognized that God had gifted each individual with unique skills and talents, and by giving them specific tasks, he empowered them to contribute meaningfully to the restoration project. Nehemiah's delegation lightened his load and encouraged the people to take ownership and pride in their work as they rebuilt the wall. One of the greatest things we can do is to trust our employees. As they sense our trust, they’ll feel the freedom to use the gifts God’s given them, and, as a result, our teams will be stronger and more unified.
Nehemiah also empowered others to fulfill their roles. In Nehemiah 4, he didn't step in to do everything himself when opposition and discouragement arose. Instead, he motivated the people to persevere and trust in God.
"Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes." Nehemiah 4:14
Nehemiah understood that leadership is not about micromanaging or controlling every aspect of the task. Instead, true leadership involves equipping others with the necessary tools, providing guidance and support, and instilling confidence in their abilities. By empowering others, we can create an environment of unity, purpose, and trust where everyone works together for the glory of God.
Like Nehemiah, we should embrace the responsibility to delegate tasks, empowering others to use their gifts and talents for God’s glory. As we lead and serve others, let us remember that good leadership is not about control or personal recognition but about equipping, empowering, and serving those entrusted to our care. May we follow Nehemiah's example, rely on God's guidance, and bring glory to Him through our leadership.
