Spiritual Leadership Through Adversity

True spiritual leaders consistently demonstrate sacrifice in their ministry.

Introduction

Chapter Four: Nehemiah faces opposition from people outside the Jewish community.

Nehemiah 4:1-2 ends with a mocking call from Sanballat - “Can they bring these burnt stones back to life from the mounds of rubble?”

How does Nehemiah handle it? Verse 4 says he went straight to God - Listen, these people are hurling insults at us - take care of them so we can focus on the rebuilding.

Nehemiah shows us what it means to turn opposition and adversity over to God. He demonstrates what it means to sacrifice potential credit, honor, and power.

Nehemiah shares that it was God that frustrated the oppositional plan of Sanballat and company, not Nehemiah. In verse 20, Nehemiah tells the people when you hear the trumpet, rally to it. Our God will fight for us.

But, now in chapter 5, we see opposition coming from another place - from within the Jewish people. The very people called to rebuild the wall, the very people who are called to move forward are shown as divisive, immoral, and sinful exploiters.

The people sold their land, their fields, their sons and daughters into slavery to pay back the debts they owe to the king. Which king? Artaxerxes, the very king with whom Nehemiah developed a strong relationship. The people are rampant in their sin and violation of the law. Nehemiah confronts the Jewish leaders who are violating the law and he condemns their unethical and immoral profiteering practices.

We see a very negative picture of Jewish leadership in verses 1-13. The situation is dire, and the text is pretty clear - the problem is financial exploitation. What I want to look at today is the stark contrast between the two groups of leaders in chapter 5, but pay especially close attention to Nehemiah’s example of leadership in verses 14-19 and how he led his people through this opposition from within.

I. Spiritual leaders sacrifice perks and privileges.

The first image of spiritual leadership the text paints is pretty clear - Spiritual leaders sacrifice perks and privileges.

Nehemiah 5:14-15 “Furthermore, from the day King Artaxerxes appointed me to be their governor in the land of Judah—from the twentieth year until his thirty-second year, 12 years —I and my associates never ate from the food allotted to the governor. The governors who preceded me had heavily burdened the people, taking food and wine from them, as well as a pound of silver. Their subordinates also oppressed the people, but I didn’t do this, because of the fear of God.”

If you go back and read 5:3-6, you see problems such as drought and famine, high taxes, and high interest rates that plunged the people into economic bondage, and it was done at the hands of the Jewish leaders. The leaders not named Nehemiah took the perks and privileges of leadership to the extreme. They abused their power and privilege and acquired food when others were hungry.

Spiritual leaders hunger for opportunities to serve sacrificially.

The people had to mortgage their fields to generate the cash needed to pay taxes and buy grain. But then they couldn’t pay back what they owed, so they lost the fields. This finally leaves them in a position where they had to sell their sons and daughters into slavery. There may not be a clearer picture in Scripture of a time when Godly leadership was needed.

Nehemiah could have easily taken advantage of the perks of his position, particularly the food and money he had access to, and ignored the inner turmoil and opposition rising in the Jewish community. Instead, Nehemiah sacrifices his perks and privileges for 12 years. During this time of opposition, the people became embattled, embittered, and vindictive but not Nehemiah.

But Nehemiah, why not just use the means and resources you have at your disposal to solve the problem of hunger and economic exploitation? Well, that’s pretty simple -

Simply handing the Jewish people the means and resources of King Artaxerxes doesn’t solve the problem of rampant sin within the Jewish leadership. We’re going to look at Nehemiah’s handling of the opposition in more detail in the second point of this message.

Their sin is tearing the Jewish people apart and it must be addressed - and Nehemiah did exactly that in - Nehemiah 5:7-8.

In verse 9, Nehemiah speaks to their values and principles - “What you are doing isn’t right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God and not invited the reproach of our foreign enemies?”

Spiritual leaders speak to people’s inner-most being.

The leaders and subordinates prior to Nehemiah laid a heavy burden on the people and then reaped the rewards and perks. Consider the words of Jesus in Matthew 11:28 ““Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Or later in Matthew 23:2-4 where Jesus address the Jewish leaders - ““The scribes and the Pharisees are seated in the chair of Moses. Therefore do whatever they tell you, and observe it. But don’t do what they do, because they don’t practice what they teach. They tie up heavy loads that are hard to carry and put them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves aren’t willing to lift a finger to move them.”

II. Spiritual leaders commit to partnerships, not exploitation.

The next piece of leading spiritually through adversity and opposition is demonstrated in verse 16 - Spiritual leaders commit to partnerships, not exploitation.

Nehemiah 5:16 “Instead, I devoted myself to the construction of the wall, and all my subordinates were gathered there for the work. We didn’t buy any land.”

This is kind of a weird, short verse, and it ends really abruptly. But it is powerful.

Nehemiah has already demonstrated that there are powerful relationships that develop when a person leads. The one that the makes most clear in our passage today is that between leader and subordinates or associates.

Spiritual leaders are willing to sacrifice personally to build partnerships.

Twice in three verses he has referenced this relationship. Nehemiah set himself apart from all the other governors and rulers on the basis of his willingness to create partnerships with his subordinates.

It’s hard not to speculate here, but it is pretty clear that people are naturally followers. Nehemiah’s subordinates followed his example of refraining from the perks of working for King Artaxerxes. The Jewish leaders outlined in verses 1-13 did the opposite.

But, Nehemiah is smart and he is motivated. But his motivation is much clearer, much cleaner, and much credible then the other Jewish leaders.

Nehemiah’s motivation is seen in his recognition of being a subordinate of God.

When the conflict and opposition arose from those outside the Jewish community, Nehemiah let God fight the battle and he kept his vision focused squarely on the wall. He was a follower of God more than a leader of people, and he showed the people what it looked like to follow.

Now, he’s got conflict within! What does a spiritual leader do in this moment?

Exactly what Nehemiah does - Lead in partnership.

Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther (B. Leadership by Example (5:14–19))

Leadership requires working with different interest groups and personalities, while at the same time supplying a vision to follow.

Nehemiah’s motivation and vision gets the attention of the people, it attracts them, and as a result, the people model his passion and his ethics. Now, Nehemiah got angry in 5:6. When leaders get angry, it is not uncommon for bad things to follow. But, because of Nehemiah’s obedience to God and his personal discipline, his anger is self-controlled and constructive. It is used to overcome the opposition from within. His anger leads him to cast the vision for moving the people out of their sinful mess.

Nehemiah is a visionary. Sometimes leaders are designated as visionaries, but the vision involves a bunch of other people doing the work to make the vision a reality. Not Nehemiah. He allowed the Lord to build a vision in his mind and Nehemiah kept that vision ahead of the opposition.

He devoted himself to seeing the vision through alongside the people. Some of the most powerful words in our passage today say this - “I devoted myself...” They saw that he was not above the work of rebuilding. They saw that Nehemiah was living out the spirit of the law - to love God and to love your neighbor as yourself. This is why they didn’t buy any land - they weren’t going to fall prey to the same conflict that others were drawn in to.

Why was Nehemiah successful at building partnerships? Well, he confronted the opposers immediately, directly, and without public fanfare. But his ultimate goal in calling for their repentance was to redeem their wrong and partner with him to build the wall!

III. Spiritual leaders confidently model God’s generosity and faithfulness.

So, not only was Nehemiah building the wall, he entertained guests. But, he did so on his own dime. What do we learn from this?

Spiritual leaders confidently model God’s generosity and faithfulness.

While Nehemiah dealt with opposition and adversity, he was generous.

Verses 17-18 almost make more sense if you flip them around to read like this:

Because the burden on the people was so heavy, (lead with your purpose)

I didn’t demand the food allotted to the governor, (because I’m a man of integrity and not a slave to the king)

So each day I gave this great spread, (because that was available without exploitation)

and I did so to the tune of 150 Jews and guests from other nations (because I am motivated by God).

Each of these statements highlights Nehemiah’s generosity.

Being generous opens doors to sharing God’s generosity towards us.

Nehemiah forfeited his right to income and then, he provides the necessities of a government official. Persian government officials were entitled to meals from the governor. Who’s the governor? Nehemiah.

Nehemiah’s generous hospitality, provision of food for dignitaries, and incredible sensitivity stands in contrast to the Jewish leaders involved in the exploitation of the people.

Nehemiah absorbed the pressure and responsibility of his role.

Instead of passing it along to someone else or to the people who were already overburdened.

If you read, 1-13, you’d think there would be praise for Nehemiah. He worked tirelessly to overcome the internal opposition from the Jewish people. Certainly, you’d think he’d get a nod of approval or appreciation. Nope, nothing. And in Nehemiah’s mind, that was exactly his vision for overcoming this opposition the entire time. Because of his sacrifices, the people saw that it was God who deserved their praise and credit for the victory over this opposition.

This does not downplay Nehemiah’s incredible leadership through this opposition. Recall who ate at Nehemiah’s table - members of foreign nations. Behaving selfishly, and doing so at the expense of another Jew, was an affront to God and maybe more importantly, it discredited him among the pagan nations.

Credentials point -

Nehemiah simply wanted God’s approval.

Remember me favorably he says. God will not forget his loyal servants.

Nehemiah knew of God’s incredible power in his simple cry to God, when he says my God.

But for what - for all that I have done for this people.

Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther III. Conclusion: Please Show Your Credentials

Nehemiah had few personal ambitions. He certainly did not follow after the established and presumed methods of leadership. Rather than acquiring lands and privilege, Nehemiah served the people. Rather than seeking advantage, he sought service. Others worked hard for themselves, making business and political alliances and deals and accumulating powerful connections like a string of letters behind their name. Nehemiah was content with one credential—servant of God.

How about you?

Is there some area in your life where God is calling you to act like Nehemiah? Is there some area where you’re stuck between me or we?

Is there a sphere of influence in your life where you need to be like Nehemiah and confront opposition within?

Maybe you feel the push to lead more sacrificially, but aren’t sure where. Let the words of our closing song guide you -

Be thou my vision.