Leadership that Gives Glory to God

So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days. When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God. Nehemiah 6:15-16 (NIV)

Nehemiah was a great leader who decided to leave his high position in the government of Artaxerxes, King of Persia, to go back to Jerusalem and rebuild the city walls. Equipped with the necessary provisions and supplies, he led the people to work and guard while they were cleaning, organizing, and building the city walls. The Bible says that after 52 days of hard work, they accomplished the task. The wall was back again, ready to provide a safe environment for the Jewish people to live and worship. 

In many instances, after completing a major project, the project manager or company leader receives applause and recognition for their achievements. Big infrastructure projects are typically inaugurated by politicians and prominent figures to demonstrate power and gain public approval. But in this case, there is something relevant that we should notice.

When the surrounding nations—especially their enemies—heard about the wall’s completion, they did not credit Nehemiah’s leadership skills or the resources provided by King Artaxerxes. Instead, they were filled with fear because they recognized that this project had been accomplished with the help of God. The success of Nehemiah’s leadership was not attributed to human effort or influence but to divine intervention.

As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10:31, we should do everything for the glory of God, especially in leadership positions where we are constantly in the spotlight. In our daily work, whether we lead teams, manage projects, or simply serve others, we must remember that true success comes when we point the glory back to God, not to ourselves.

Reflect

Are you giving Glory to God through your leadership? Will the projects you're working on, help others to know God?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help us put aside our pride and self-confidence. Teach us to lead in a way that brings honor to You. May our actions and accomplishments reflect Your goodness, and may our work be a testimony to Your glory. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.