An exemplary leader (Nehemiah 5:14-19)

 An exemplary leader

 

 

[Nehemiah 5:14-19]

 

 

Steven Berglas, a psychologist at Harvard Medical School, had this to say about ‘Success syndrome’.  Even if you get a great sense of accomplishment, if you don't have the basic character to sustain it, you're headed for ruin.  He believes that such people fall for one or more of the following four A's: (1) Arrogance, (2) Painful feeling of Aloneness, (3) Destructive Adventure-Seeking, (4) Adultery.  These 4 things are that people with weak character always ask for too high a price to pay.  One thing to keep in mind here is that no amount of time, money, or even prestige will ever get you past the valley you're in, where you've fallen into one or more of the four A's.  The reason is because the cracks in character grow deeper and more destructive over time.  Whether we lead people at home, at work, or at gatherings, we must not forget that character is our most important asset (Maxwell).  Alan Bernard, president of Mid Park, Inc., said this about character: ‘The respect that leadership must have, it requires the ethical life of the individual.  A leader must not only stand on the line between right and wrong, but also live a transparent life without a ‘grey zone’ (Maxwell).  I think the most important list in leadership is character.  Therefore, we must devote ourselves in building character in order to find potential leaders, build them up as mature lay ministers, and send them out.  And the important thing in the process of creating character is crisis or adversity.  The reason is because crises do not necessarily shape character, but they do reveal character.  Adversity is a crossroads where character and compromise meet, and life always has to choose one of them (Maxwell).

 

If we look at Nehemiah 5:14-19, we can see the exemplary leader Nehemiah.  He was an uncompromising leader in the midst of crisis and adversity.  I would like to meditate on his exemplary leadership in four ways.  I hope and pray that we can all become leaders with Christ-centered visions by receiving the grace given in the midst of this.

 

First, exemplary leaders do not abuse their privileges.

 

Look at Nehemiah 5:14 – “Moreover, from the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, until his thirty-second year--twelve years--neither I nor my brothers ate the food allotted to the governor.”  While Nehemiah was governor of Judah for 12 years, he and his brothers did not do so even though he and his brothers had the authority to collect taxes from the people as governors of Judah.  In other words, they were able to collect taxes not only for the Judean land-centered fund of the people, but also for their own personal treasury.  However, Nehemiah himself and his brothers, those who had a high position in the governor's service, served the people of Judah with their own money without gathering taxes from them.

 

Nehemiah's exemplary behavior brings to mind the New Testament apostle Paul.  Apostle Paul did not use his authority as an apostle even though he had it (1 Cor. 9).  Even though he was entitled to receive support from the Corinthian church, he did not use that authority.  Rather he did not use the authority he had as he preached the gospel “free of charge” (9:18).  Of course, Paul is not saying that all Christian workers should do as he does.  The reason is because those who preach the gospel are commanded to live through the gospel (v. 14).  However, all of us Christians must follow Paul's example and have a spiritual attitude regarding wealth and ministry.  We must be prepared to sacrifice our own personal interests for the good of the souls entrusted to our care.  But what about reality?  What about Korean politics in particular?  When a person rise to a high position, isn't the first thing s/he think about, 'How can I use my power to make money?'  If the people elect people to do well in the country, aren't they busy filling their stomachs by abusing their power, privileges, and high status, leading to economic collapse?  When a problem arises, they give and receive hundreds of millions of dollars in an apple box.

 

Leaders must be governed more by a sense of servanthood than by a sense of privilege (Lee).  Leaders are those who are much criticized and trusted.’  Leaders are to be of benefit to others, even at the expense of themselves.

 

Second, exemplary leaders break away from traditional mistakes.

 

Look at Nehemiah 5:15 – “But the earlier governors--those preceding me--placed a heavy burden on the people and took forty shekels of silver from them in addition to food and wine. Their assistants also lorded it over the people. But out of reverence for God I did not act like that.”  Before Nehemiah became governor of the land of Judah, the governors, together with their servants, extorted from the people.  In other words, they stole from the people of Judah an allowance of meal and wine and forty shekels of silver for their personal luxurious life.  Therefore, the former governors and their retinue became a heavy burden to the people of Judah.  Because they were busy filling their stomachs without considering the people's situation at all, the people's burdens were bound to become even heavier.  But Nehemiah, the new governor, did not do the same.  The reason is because he was a leader who feared God.  In other words, Nehemiah took proper action as a worshiper of God.

 

We often forget God when we go up in rank or when our status improves.  Also, when we use a high command, there are times when we look away from God because it seems bigger than God (Lee).  One example is King Saul.  Look at 1 Samuel 15:17 – “Samuel said, ‘Although you were once small in your own eyes, did you not become the head of the tribes of Israel?  The LORD anointed you king over Israel.’”  Saul, who considered himself small, became proud and became a king who cared for himself rather than for God (v. 12).  In the end, rather than fearing God, he was afraid of those who thought he was great (v. 24).  In the words of Pastor John White: ‘From the very beginning, when Christian public affairs are in full swing, few Christians are interested in making money from that ministry.  But as we grow older and our responsibilities grow and our careers grow, we begin to feel that we deserve not only to be paid for the work we do, but to be paid as much as a king.  The snake of greed slowly strangles our charity and love.  In wealthy countries, Christian leaders can, and sometimes do, use Christian ministries for personal gain.  In doing so, they reveal themselves to be wolves, not shepherds’ (White).  It is a scary word to say that in the early days of ministry, the serpent of greed cannot be seen, but it can slowly begin to lift its tail.  Therefore, like Nehemiah, we must be people who fear God.  We must hate evil because we fear God (Prov. 8:13).

 

Third, exemplary leaders do what they have to do with all their might.

Fearing God, Nehemiah did what he had to do with all his might, but what did he do?  We can think of it in 2 ways:

 

(1)   Nehemiah continued to build the walls of Jerusalem.

 

Look at Nehemiah 5:16 – “Instead, I devoted myself to the work on this wall. All my men were assembled there for the work; we did not acquire any land.”  Instead of extorting the people of Judah like the previous governors or their servants, Nehemiah, with his servants, instead continued to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, his goal, in the fear of God.  How contrasting is this?  Seeing the difference between the leaders who did not fear God and the leader who feared God, the former governors and their servants who did not fear God were busy building their own “wall”.  An example is Haggai 1:9b – “…  ‘Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house.’”  What was the result?  “You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little …” (v. 9b).  The God-fearing leader, Nehemiah, and his servants worked hard to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem with all their might, but did not buy the land of Judah.  In other words, he did not speculate on land.

 

(2)   Nehemiah tried to be kind.

 

Look at Nehemiah 5:17-18a: “Furthermore, a hundred and fifty Jews and officials ate at my table, as well as those who came to us from the surrounding nations.  Each day one ox, six choice sheep and some poultry were prepared for me, and every ten days an abundant supply of wine of all kinds. ….”  There are two views on leaders.  One is the view that leaders should show that he is the boss.  Another is the view that leaders should be servants.  The governors and their men before Nehemiah reigned over the people (v. 15).  In contrast, Nehemiah was a servant leader.  True leaders serve.  It is to serve people.  It is to serve for their best interest.  And in doing so it is not always famous, and it is not always impressive.  However, true leaders are willing to pay the price because they are driven by love and concern, not by a desire for personal glory (White).  As governor, Nehemiah had more than 150 guests to serve at his table every day (guests from the surrounding countries, in addition to the people of Judah and the officials).  How much money would it take to treat them?  Nevertheless, Nehemiah did not ask for the people's food, but prepared and served all the food with his own money.  They also served the best food (“choice sheep”) abundantly (v. 18).  Why?

The answer can be found in the second half of verse 18: “…  I never demanded the food allotted to the governor, because the demands were heavy on these people.”  In other words, Nehemiah was a leader who had mercy on the people.

 

Fourth, exemplary leaders long for God's grace.

 

                     Look at Nehemiah 5:19 – “Remember me with favor, O my God, for all I have done for these people.”  When we do something sacrificially, we may feel like we are losing money: ‘Why am I giving this a hard time?  What is that price?'  However, Nehemiah did not expect anything in return from the people of Judah.  Instead, he prayed to God to be gracious.  He expected a reward from God.  Nehemiah served only to please the Lord and only asked Him to reward his sacrificial service.

 

                This is what Colossians 3:23-24 says to slaves who work hard and do not receive any reward or reward and suffer hardships: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.  ….”  We must serve hard while looking forward to the reward we will receive from the Lord.