I did not demand the governor's provisions, because the bondage was heavy on this people (Nehemiah 5:18).
THEME
LEADERSHIP
When asked the secret to his success, restaurateur and chef Andre Soltner of the famed Lutäce in New York replied, "I cook from my heart, with love. It must be the same with service. The waiter must serve with love. Otherwise the food is nothing. . . . Many times, I leave my kitchen and go to the tables to take orders myself. It starts right then and there . . . there is nothing mysterious about Lutäce. I put love in my . . . serving. That is all."
Nehemiah knew how to put love in his serving. Under his leadership, the Israelites successfully rebuilt the wall of Jerusalem after they returned from captivity. Nehemiah organized the people, encouraged them, and artfully handled all opposition. Yet his greatest achievement may have been his loving leadership. He worked alongside the people, and to identify with them in their great need he refused to take the food that was due him as governor.
The kings of ancient near-eastern countries normally ruled with harshness and cruelty. The Romans of New Testament times often treated their subjects unfairly and brutally. And leaders today sometimes consider their own interests and finances before that of their followers. In contrast to these unloving, me-first forms of leadership, Jesus called leaders to give up their own rights, to serve instead of dictate, and to risk everything for others.
We like being the head pin, but falling first is not our game. Mark says that Jesus took the blame for us. And in so doing, He demonstrated loving leadership (10:45). All would-be leaders should fall in behind Him.
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JUN 24
NEHEMIAH 1:1-6; 2:11-18
I went out by night . . . and viewed the walls of Jerusalem which were broken down (Nehemiah 2:13).
The Chicago newspapers reported a rash of gang-related slayings in a large inner-city housing project. The police seemed unable to stop the violence. For several weeks Jane Byrne, mayor of Chicago, wrestled with the problem. Then, to everyone's surprise, she announced that she and her husband were moving into that apartment complex. Immediately she gained widespread community support for her action. Soon even her critics admitted that her bold leadership and example had made a significant difference.
Mayor Byrne's action reminds me of Nehemiah, that man of God who was instrumental in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. As a Jewish exile serving in a high-ranking position under the king of Persia, he received word that the remnant of his people in Jerusalem were in great danger. The walls of the city had been knocked down; the gates had been burned. Heartbroken, Nehemiah wept, fasted, confessed his sins, and prayed for several days to the God of heaven. Then, as the Lord directed him, he left the security of his position and moved into the violence-racked city. He stayed there until the walls were rebuilt and order was restored.
Whatever position of authority we hold, there's a lesson in this for us. We must be willing to identify with human need so that God can use us in troubled areas. That's leadership that leads.
--M.R.D.II
People who doubt what we say may change their minds when they see what we do.
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JUN 25
NEHEMIAH 5:1-16
Be an example to the believers . . . in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity (1 Timothy 4:12).
Believers exert a positive influence on others by setting a good example with the consistency of their lives. Will Houghton, president of Moody Bible Institute during the 1940s, was such a person.
Before Houghton became president of Moody, he pastored a church in New York City. An agnostic living there was contemplating suicide, but he decided that if he could find a minister who lived what he professed, he would listen to him. Since Will Houghton was a prominent figure in the city and a pastor, the man chose Houghton for his case study. He hired a private detective to watch him. When the investigator's report came back, it revealed that Houghton's life was above reproach. The agnostic went to Houghton's church, accepted Christ, and later sent his daughter to Moody Bible Institute.
Nehemiah was another believer who dramatically affected the lives of those around him. Even rich nobles and high officials listened respectfully as he rebuked them. Why? Because of the quality of his life. Whatever he asked of others, he was willing to do himself. And because Nehemiah joined in the hard work and refrained from using his position to accumulate wealth, the leaders couldn't help but listen to what he said.
An exemplary life awakens spiritual and moral sensitivity in those who observe us, and it gives power to our words of witness.
--H.V.L.
We can preach a better sermon with our lives than with our lips.
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JUN 26
MATTHEW 7:15-20
"Therefore by their fruits you will know them" (Matthew 7:20).
Throughout history, ungodly people have attained power and influence through their strong personalities or their spectacular deeds. But natural qualities and remarkable feats do not provide the kind of spiritual leadership that God desires and approves. A classic example is the Russian "clergyman" Rasputin.
Rasputin gained a foothold in the home of Czar Nicholas II because he seemed to possess a supernatural power to help the czar's hemophiliac son. Rasputin's "prayers" appeared to do far more for the boy than the efforts of all his doctors. Thus, the "holy man" achieved great influence in the government by telling the czar and his wife that their son would live only as long as they listened to his advice. As time went on, Rasputin became openly cruel and immoral, maintaining his position through intimidation and fear.
Charlatans can be clever and winsome. They may even perform counterfeit miracles. But observed closely, their lives give no evidence of the fruit of the Spirit. Their works are as worthless as apples tied on an apple tree to make it look productive.
Fitness for spiritual leadership comes from the inside, not the outside, and includes the qualities of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal 5:22-23).
--H.V.L.
A good leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.
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JUN 27
JAMES 3
Let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment (James 3:1).
Author Mark Twain was often outspoken about his bitterness toward the things of God. Sadly, church leaders were largely to blame for his becoming hostile to the Bible and the Christian faith. As Twain grew up, he knew elders and deacons who owned slaves and abused them, and he knew ministers who used the Bible to justify slavery. He heard men use foul language and saw them practice dishonesty during the week after speaking piously in church on Sunday. Although he saw genuine love for the Lord Jesus in some people, including his mother and his wife, he was never able to understand the bad teaching and poor example of certain church leaders.
Leadership is a privilege, and with privilege comes responsibility. God holds teachers of His truth doubly responsible because they are in positions where they can either draw people toward Christ or drive them away from Him.
Serving as an elder, a deacon, a Sunday school teacher, or a Bible club leader is an awesome responsibility. Those who are called to these positions are responsible to lead people TO the Savior rather than away from Him. According to James 3, they can do this by exemplifying true wisdom, which is "pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy" (v. 17).
--H.V.L.
The best kind of leadership produces fellowship.
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JUN 28
JAMES 5:13-20
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves (1 John 1:8).
In his book HELPING THOSE WHO DON'T WANT HELP, Marshall Shelley told of a pastor who was backing out of his garage when he heard a "snap." When he got out to look, he discovered his favorite fishing pole in two pieces. "Who was using my fishing pole?" he asked. "I was, Dad," said his five-year-old son. "I was playing with it and I forgot to put it away." The pastor wasn't pleased, but he said to his son, "Well, thank you for telling me," and said no more about it. Two days later, while shopping with his mother, the boy said, "Mom, I got to buy Dad a new fishing pole. I broke his other one. Here's my money." And he handed her his total life savings--two dollars. "You don't have to do that," said his mother. "But I want to, Mom," the boy said. "I found out that Dad loves me more than he loves his fishing pole."
Later, the pastor told his congregation about the incident. "When I heard what my son said, I felt great. I felt that for once I had done something right." After the service, several men told the pastor that they appreciated what he had said about doing something right for once. They had the idea that pastors always did everything right.
This is a good lesson for other leaders also. We don't always have to appear to be "on top of it." We need to admit that we struggle sometimes; we need to reveal some of our own faults and failures. When leaders are open and honest about their own lives, others will be helped and encouraged by what they say.
--D.C.E.
We should acknowledge our own sins--not our neighbor's.
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JUN 29
PSALM 15
Who may dwell in Your holy hill? . . . He who swears to his own hurt and does not change (Psalm 15:1, 4).
At the University of Santa Clara, California, a researcher conducted a study of 1500 business managers to determine, among other things, what workers value most in a boss. The survey revealed that employees respect leaders who are competent, have the ability to inspire, and are skillful in providing direction. But there was a fourth quality they admired even more--integrity. Above all else, workers wanted managers who kept their word, who were honest, who were trustworthy.
While this finding holds special significance for Christian managers, it also says something to all who name the name of Christ. Integrity is a trait that applies to all believers, no matter what their position. According to Psalm 15, it should be at the very heart of every word and deed of every godly person. Since the God of the Bible always keeps His word, it follows that godly people should also be known as those who do what they say they will do.
Personally, I find this truth to be somewhat unsettling. Although I have not had an especially difficult time avoiding conscious lies, I have found it easy to forget good intentions or to fail to keep a promise. Sometimes it's difficult to do what I said I would do.
Maybe we all need to be more careful about our integrity. Do those around us admire us for our honesty? Does the Lord above? Does He see us as doing what we said we would do--even if it hurts?
--M.R.D.II
Those who are on the level can rise to the highest place.
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JUN 30
GENESIS 43:1-12
Whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, . . . think on these things (Philippians 4:8 kjv).
Our society needs a good dose of old-fashioned honesty, particularly among its leaders. In business, in politics, in school, in the home, and even in the church, we are seeing less and less of this vital quality--especially in money matters. Under-the-table deals, unrecorded transactions, padded expense accounts, forgotten debts, and unpaid traffic fines are the order of the day. The rule seems to be, if you can get away with it, do it.
We need to recapture something of the spirit and moral character of the sixteenth President of the United States. Throughout Lincoln's professional life as a lawyer he always had a partner. Frequently, Abe would go out on a circuit to handle legal matters while his colleague stayed at home. When he completed a case, Lincoln often collected the fee before he returned to the office. He always divided the money in his billfold, carefully wrapping his partner's half in a piece of paper on which he wrote his name and the case for which it was received. In this way, if anything happened to him before turning over the money, no one could dispute the amount and for whom it was intended. This practice may seem trivial, but it was totally in keeping with the man we have come to know as "Honest Abe."
We all should make it our goal to live in such a way that the word HONEST sounds right in front of our name.
