PRINCIPLES OF CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP 3

Insights from Nehemiah

This the last post of this series. In this post we look at the last three principles.

Principle 3: LEADERSHIP MEANS TAKING RISKS

Risk is AN essential part of leadership. Risk is the exposure of one’s self, power, and ability. Nehemiah had to expose himself and his heart to the king. He was risking his position, the king’s anger, and his whole future. Risk is part of taking a stand and getting involved. Risk should never take place needlessly; but at the same time it is not playing it safe.

Principle 4: LEADERSHIP SETS GOALS

Nehemiah had a goal—to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Goals need to be both necessary and obtainable. Goals come from seeing what is and what could be. They must be realistic, yet they must be challenging. Setting goals involves three things: Investigation of the current situation; second, a definition of goal; third, the ability to find the resources and to be able to organize them to overcome and obtain the goal. A goal setter must also be a problem solver. Nehemiah evidenced such skills when he was ready to tell the king (2:7-8). A leader is a man of vision—He sees where we are, where we need to be, and how to get there. He leads them to the goal. He is a man walking by faith—looking to God for solutions, ability, and grace to lead to the goal set before them. 

Principle 5: LEADERSHIP MUST BE ABLE TO DELEGATE.

Leaders must be delegators. No man can do it all. Yet, this may be one of the hardest principles to practice. Some Christian leaders think it is easier to do it themselves. This is wrong thinking for three reasons: First, it robs others of using their gifts for the common goal. Second, it hurts efficiency. John White defines efficiency as the means “of achieving goals with the smallest waste of resources.” [EXCELLENCE IN LEADERSHIP, 35]. A leader who tries to do it all without the use of delegation is not an efficient leader. Third, it compromises one’s leadership. It has the tendency to turn leadership into dictatorship. Nehemiah knew how to delegate, spreading the work among forty-two groups. Wise leadership recognizes individual gifts and talents in others; matching gifts and needs. Delegation also leads to appreciation—appreciation for another’s contribution and the truth that the church is truly a body, dependent on each member.