Nehemiah’s secret to success wasn’t about chasing success itself—it was about seeking to please the Lord. He wholeheartedly followed God, and in doing so, success naturally followed him!
Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year until the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes, twelve years, neither I nor my brothers ate the governor’s provisions. But the former governors who were before me laid burdens on the people, and took from them bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver. Yes, even their servants bore rule over the people, but I did not do so, because of the fear of God. Indeed, I also continued the work on this wall, and we did not buy any land. All my servants were gathered there for the work.
And at my table were one hundred and fifty Jews and rulers, besides those who came to us from the nations around us. Now that which was prepared daily was one ox and six choice sheep. Also fowl were prepared for me, and once every ten days an abundance of all kinds of wine. Yet in spite of this I did not demand the governor’s provisions, because the bondage was heavy on this people.
Remember me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people. Nehemiah 5: 4-19
Nehemiah not only rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem in about 52 days, but he also served the people of God with gladness and generosity! The passage tells us that he was in the governor’s post for twelve years, yet he chose not to use the privileges of his position. He refused to tax the people or take money from them, and instead, he regularly fed others from his own table.
When was the last time you saw such a leader in our day and age?
The world has given us a distorted view of leadership. Too often, leadership is portrayed as a means for personal achievement and the pursuit of individual goals. In today’s culture, some leaders seek fame and notoriety. If they aren’t receiving financial compensation from their churches, they may still leverage their platforms to sell books, products, and make a luxurious living.
However, leadership as modeled by Nehemiah is a beautiful combination of character, competency, care, and sacrifice. He exemplified it all!
Jesus set the ultimate standard of leadership by surrendering His life to the Father. He never sought greatness or accomplishments by worldly measures. Instead, He accepted the Father’s plan, knowing it required immense sacrifice. Jesus fully embraced this mission, demonstrating perfect obedience and servant-hearted leadership.
In the Old Testament, Nehemiah reflected the heart of the Father before we came to know Jesus. He selflessly gave his time and resources to serve God and bless His people.
The best leaders are those who follow Jesus wholeheartedly. Let us not confuse gifting and anointing with godly character. It is godly character that enables a leader to live sacrificially and love God’s people faithfully.
There is a famine of good and godly leaders in the land today. This reality becomes especially clear when we select governmental leaders, often choosing the “lesser of two evils.” Some of these leaders lack both godly character and true leadership qualities. Is it any wonder people feel disillusioned with government and politics?
I love Nehemiah’s prayer at the end of this passage in verse 19:
“Remember me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.”
Nehemiah sought his encouragement from the Lord, not from the applause or appreciation of others. People didn’t always listen to him or follow his lead, but at the end of the day, he worked for an audience of one. Knowing that the Lord remembered him for all the good he had done for the Israelites was Nehemiah’s greatest reward, the best gift and blessing he could ever receive!.