Leadership Principles From Nehemiah – 2

Leaders Leverage Their Power (Nehemiah 2:5).

MANAGEMENT has been defined as the ability to get things done through other people. However, that can happen only if the people involved are in a position to get things done. Thus leaders must use their influence to get people of means participating in their efforts.

Nehemiah followed this principle in his plan to rebuild Jerusalem. He was in a key position of influence as the cupbearer to Artaxerxes (Nehemiah 2:1). He had the king’s ear, and he leveraged his proximity to power for the advantage of his people. He requested and was granted a leave of absence (Nehemiah 2:5-6), letters of reference (Nehemiah 2:7), and a government grant for building materials (Nehemiah 2:8).

Today, the ability to leverage power is an indispensable requirement of leadership, especially for those who work in community development and urban ministry. There are plenty of resources to help the poor, for example, but it takes wise and disciplined leaders to align themselves with the powerful on behalf of the powerless. Tasks such as grant-writing, resource development, and asset distribution require careful cultivation of relationships with those in the networks of power.

Courtesy of Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the New King James Version®, NKJV © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.