Lesson from Nehemiah - Godly Leader

Oikos 12 November 16

We learnt about good leader and poor leader characteristics from Nehemiah.

2. Nehemiah 5:7 I pondered them in my mind and then accused the nobles and officials. I told them, “You are charging your own people interest!” So I called together a large meeting to deal with them //good leader think carefully and thoroughly before taking an action. Nehemiah did not act in anger.

4. Nehemiah 5:9-11 So I continued, “What you are doing is not right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our Gentile enemies? I and my brothers and my men are also lending the people money and grain. But let us stop charging interest! Give back to them immediately their fields, vineyards, olive groves and houses, and also the interest you are charging them—one percent of the money, grain, new wine and olive oil.” //good leader will take action to fix what is wrong and broken. He also reminded their people to fear God.

5. Nehemiah 5:18 Each day one ox, six choice sheep and some poultry were prepared for me, and every ten days an abundant supply of wine of all kinds. In spite of all this, I never demanded the food allotted to the governor, because the demands were heavy on these people. // good leader thinks about other people, not for their own benefits.

1. Nehemiah 5:1 Now the men and their wives raised a great outcry against their fellow Jews. //previous leader did not listen to the problems of his people.

2. Nehemiah 5:3 Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards and our homes to get grain during the famine.” //previous leader thinks about himself and his benefits only.