Seven Lessons in Servant Leadership: Nehemiah

LESSON ONE

Reflection

Have you ever searched all over for something special only to realize that what you were looking for was right in front of you the whole time? Such was the case for me as I explored numerous books on golf. Anyone who has ever endeavoured to understand the golf swing can tell you that there are many rabbit holes you can go down, each providing conflicting views on how to move the golf club through space to impact a ball with the goal of driving it straight and far. One day, while rummaging through an old box of books, I rediscovered what some consider the Holy Grail of golf instructional books: Ben Hogan’s Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf. As I flipped through the pages, I could not help but lament the time I had wasted viewing endless YouTube videos on the golf swing and chasing the latest swing theories when such a gem had been in my possession all along. 

Similarly, over the years, I have acquired a pretty impressive collection of books on leadership. However, few books provide guidance on biblical leadership and even less specifically address biblical servant leadership in a secular setting. Thankfully, I recently rediscovered a gem within my possession. It has been hiding in plain sight all along, nestled in my study bible between the books of Esther and Ruth. Admittedly, it hasn't been hiding at all! All this time, I have chosen to overlook it. Perhaps you have as well. 

Application

The action in the book of Nehemiah begins in 445/444 B.C. in the Persian city of Susa after seventy years of exile in Babylon for the Jewish people. Nehemiah, the central figure, is the cupbearer for King Artaxerxes, giving him direct access to the Persian monarch. The action begins to unfold when Nehemiah receives word from a delegation from Judah, including his brother, describing a poor state of affairs for the Jews who had returned from exile to Jerusalem. According to their report, “the wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.” (Nehemiah 1:3). The disheartening news prompts Nehemiah to petition the King to allow him to travel to Jerusalem to oversee the reconstruction of the wall and the gate—a request the king grants him. Nehemiah is functioning as a subject of a foreign king, and how he oversees the reconstruction of the wall can serve as a handbook on biblical servant leadership. Over the next week, we explore seven lessons on biblical servant leadership from the work of Nehemiah. 

Servant Leadership tests the condition of one’s heart.

“As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.” (Nehemiah 1:4)

The news disheartened Nehemiah, and he could have immediately jumped to action using his influence and position to fix the issue. Instead, Nehemiah’s actions showed he truly understood the root cause of the issue: the sin of unfaithfulness. (Neh 1: 5-11) Instead of jumping into fix-it mode, Nehemiah “sat.”It seems counterintuitive, doesn't it? Not only did he sit, but the verse states that he “sat down and wept for days” while also “fasting and praying before the God of heaven.” (1-4)  Nehemiah’s actions might appear overly emotional and even infantile to some. However, his response reflects his humility and the depth of his relationship with the Lord.  It is the response of a broken spirit and a contrite heart before a Sovereign God.  Servant leadership is rooted in humility. Biblical servant leadership places God’s will above our own. Awareness of our brokenness ushers us away from our own agenda and encourages us to embrace God’s plans for our work and lives. 

Prayer

Father God, as we come before you, Sovereign Lord, we are reminded of our brokenness and inadequacy. With humble hearts, we seek Your wisdom, strength, and will. Lord, when we have the privilege of leading, we ask that you bless the work of our hands not for our own benefit but for the benefit of others. Be glorified in all we do, and may the fruits of our labour bring you praise. 

Amen.