Seven Lessons in Servant Leadership: Nehemiah

LESSON TWO

Then the king said to me, “What are you requesting?” So I prayed to the God of heaven. And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favour in your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' graves, that I may rebuild it.” (Nehemiah 2:1-5 ESV)

Reflection

Robert Greenleaf, author and founder of the modern servant leadership movement, is quoted as stating, “The first and most important choice a leader makes is the choice to serve, without which one’s capacity to lead is severely limited.” A common characteristic shared by the servant leaders depicted in the Bible is that they all respond when called to action. God’s call to act has a way of moving one from the comfort of one's life to unfamiliar and often challenging circumstances. Abraham was called out of his homeland and away from his people to an unfamiliar land. God’s call to Moses took him from Pharoah’s house to tending his father-in-law Jethro’s flocks and back to Egypt to demand freedom for his people, the Israelites.  

Similarly, God called David from the pastures to the palace, where, after persecution and significant opposition, he ruled over a united Israel for forty years, while the great Apostle Paul heard Christ’s call on the road to Damascus, beckoning him away from his campaign to persecute the Christians to spread the gospel of Christ to the Gentiles, helping to change the course of history. Their reactions ranged from self-doubt to utter awe; nonetheless, they were all moved to action, and their action can be best described as service to benefit others. 

Application

Servant Leaders show up.

Then the king said to me, “What are you requesting?” So I prayed to the God of heaven. And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favour in your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' graves, that I may rebuild it.” (Neh 2:1-5)

After receiving the troubling report on the state of affairs in Jerusalem, Nehemiah dedicated himself to intercessory prayer. (Neh 1:4-11) However, his efforts on behalf of his people did not end there. Nehemiah could have chosen to stay in the seat of comfort, serving the king in the palace. Instead, he returned to Jerusalem, knowing he would encounter less-than-ideal conditions. His position as cupbearer afforded him direct access to the king and his officials, and he was undoubtedly privy to conversations regarding administering official affairs. Nehemiah drew upon his experience and applied it to benefit his people. He did no call in his effort, instead, he petitioned to the king to allow him to oversee the rebuilding of the wall and gate in person. (Neh 2:5) 

It is often said that “leadership is not a position or a title; it’s an action.” As seen in the lives of the many leaders depicted in the Bible, such as Nehemiah, God’s call to lead is a call to action, and the action worthy of God’s calling is the service of others. 

Explore the Word

Nehemiah 2:1-8

Prayer

Lord, give us the wisdom to answer when you call us to lead. Where there is a need, Lord, give us the courage and strength to act. In humility, let our leadership be that of sacrificial service to benefit others. 

Amen,

Brad