Examples of Godly Leaders
Notes
Transcript
What are the biblical characteristics of Godly leaders? (Maybe more importantly is what are the biblical characteristics of a Christian.) Cornell’s leadership psychology course outline states “The ultimate goal of leadership is to get things done by effectively influencing and leading other people.” One question to be considered might be, how does one effectively influence and lead? The Harvard Business Review makes the argument “to be a good leader, start by being a good follower”. While this may be sound advice to a secular question, does the same advice apply to Godly leaders? To be a Godly leader, who must one follow? Throughout the Bible, there are many examples of biblical leaders. Should one follow their leadership styles, or should one follow the One in whom they followed? Leaders such as Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Daniel, David, and Paul might be considered for their styles and mannerisms, but one soon concludes they are flawed by sin. So, if these Godly leaders were flawed by sin, then how can a leader look to them as good examples to follow? It can be concluded their styles of leadership can be examined, their qualities evaluated, and their influence observed, but a Godly leader should look to the One who formed their style and qualities, and how it impacted their influence. In all these biblical leaders, God influenced how they led and formed them into their leader He chose them to be and they obediently followed.
Servant-hood
Servant-hood
1 Now Joseph had been brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, had bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there.
2 The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master.
3 His master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to succeed in his hands.
4 So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had.
These verses show an example of servanthood, not from someone seeking to be a servant, but instead from someone who was thrust into the situation. Joseph’s brothers had been irritated with their seventeen-year-old brother and his obvious favor with their father. It appears that Joseph’s dream that allude to him reigning over his brothers is the catalyst for the places the brothers plan to rid themselves of Joseph. In the above verses, he had escaped death, as had been suggested by one brother, and instead was sold into slavery. This may seem to be quite cruel and hard to understand, however God was using this to preserve His nation. Joseph has found himself in Egypt as a slave who is not serving in the house of Pharoah’s captain of the guard. Of note is the following “the Lord was with him”. God never left Joseph, even though he had been sold into slavery. God would use His servant to gain the confidence of the captain, and later on interpret dreams that would outline seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine. God used Joseph as His hand to store grain that would reunite him with his family, keep Egypt flourishing, and sustain the largest portion of his family.
How did Joseph do this? Because Joseph was obedient to the Will of God, even in the midst of adversity. He was a good leader, because he was a good follower of God. As a result, God blessed him and ultimately preserved the nation of Israel.
Faithfulness
Faithfulness
Faithfulness can be defined as “maintaining faith or allegiance; showing a strong sense of duty or conscientiousness.” Good leaders should not only be servants but should exhibit the characteristic of being faithful to God. Daniel exhibits this trait throughout his life, and an example outlined in Daniel 3:3-5
3 Then the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. And they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
4 And the herald proclaimed aloud, “You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages,
5 that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.
Daniel had shown faithfulness to God as a young teen taken into Babylonian exile. He and three friends had been taken into the kings tutelage as they exhibited leadership potential. However, they refused to eat food or drink the wine of the king, fearing they would break the law of God if they consumed unclean food that had been used as a sacrifice to idols.[1] God blessed his obedience and Daniel became a “distinguished” leader, rising above all others. Again, jealousy was the impetus for the other leaders to devise a plan to de-throne Daniel from this place of honor. However, Daniel’s faithfulness had carried him throughout his exile, and God would continue to acknowledge his faithfulness. These officials knew there was no way to discredit Daniel except by attacking his faith. They devised a plan to make praying to anyone but King Darius for thirty days illegal. Daniel would not worship anyone but the one and true God of Israel, and he continued his prayer routine. As a result, Daniel was found in prayer and was taken to the king for punishment. Darius recognized what had occurred but had no choice but to follow through with the sentence placing Daniel in the lion’s den. Regardless of the motives of others, God rewarded Daniels faithfulness by closing the lions mouths and protecting His faithful leader.
Commitment
Commitment
In examining the trait of commitment, one can look no further than the apostle Paul. 2 Corinthians 11:24-28 outlines that, even under extreme adversity, Paul was committed to preach the Gospel.
24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one.
25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea;
26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers;
27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.
28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.
Paul has made a miraculous transformation of persecutor of Christians, to now a proclaimer of Christianity. He certainly understands the cultural conflicts because of his experiences and writes to the church of Corinth outlining the multitude of problems relating to their understanding of how to treat others, and how to view themselves, and how they view their religious liberties. Paul emphatically reminds the Corinthians that the Christian lifestyle and walk, while rewarding, can also be filled with complications. Paul points out all the obstacles he has faced, given thirty-nine lashes on four occasions, three times beaten with rods, stoned once, shipwrecked three times, and the dangers he has faced. Paul knew being a biblical leader could not be successful without commitment, and nothing would stop him from spreading the gospel message. Paul knew to be a successful minister would require sacrifices, but he had gone above and beyond what most would have expected. Interestingly, he was receiving the same treatment that he, himself, had meted out on Christians prior to his own conversion. Paul, though, recognized what God had brought him through, where God had taken him, and that God would see him all the way into eternity. There was no doubt in Paul’s mind, that God would reward His committed servant and leader when he wrote 2 Timothy 4:7-8
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
He knew that he had poured out all he had and was for God, and that God would recognize the sacrifice he had made. Throughout the New Testament Paul continues to encourage, correct, and guide new churches and new Christians through thirteen epistles, or letters. Paul was a committed leader, looking to God, following God’s direction, and expecting all God had to offer as his final reward. Paul knew that when his life ended, he would have done everything possible to spread the Gospel.
Closing
Closing
For one to be a Godly leader, there are many more traits in which is describe in the bible and lived by the example of those used in scripture. These three cited were effective in their leadership and exhibited Godly character in ways that can be studied and emulated by those seeking to be stronger leaders. Joseph did not allow his circumstances to impact his relationship with the Lord. He exhibited a servant heart by placing others ahead of himself. He did not have to interpret the dreams, he did not have to plan or save for the famine, he did not have to be as lenient towards the brothers who had placed him there, in bondage. But instead, Joseph followed God’s leadership and exhibited His forgiveness which led to the preservation of the nation of Egypt, his family, and ultimately the Israelites.
Daniel is the epitome of the faithful follower. Regardless of what circumstances he faced, his faith never wavered. He was consistent from the age as a teen until his elder years in seeking God’s counsel, praying faithfully, and doing God’s Will. God rewarded Daniel with a position of oversight and authority, which allowed him to bring Godly wisdom and influence to Babylonian kings. Even facing certain death, God protected His faithful servant.
Paul was committed. At first, this commitment was persecuting Christians, but after seeing the light of Jesus on the road to Damascus, he was as equally committed to telling everyone what he had seen, and what God had done in his own life. He committed himself to the mission field, he committed himself to discipling others, he committed himself to church planting, he committed himself to teaching, guidance, correction, he committed himself fully and even when he faced possible death he committed himself to God’s Will.
All three found themselves in bondage, all three of them faced adversities, all three were successful leaders by exhibiting Godly characteristics that we all can learn from. However, caution should be exercised when only evaluating one or a few of the characteristics, as it is all the traits that will bring us to a place of strong leadership. One might argue a person might be faithful, but not fully committed. One might argue a person could be a servant’s heart but not committed. By taking a broader view of all biblical characteristics, leaders can be successful, but to truly succeed in leadership one must follow the example of these examples, looking to God for everything, being faithful to listen and act, and fully committing themselves to the Will of God.
