Effective leaders lead with consistency even when their personal life or work environment lacks structure and organization. Read Proverbs 14:4.

King Solomon of Israel, who wrote most of the book of Proverbs, lived in an agrarian society. Several of his proverbs lose their profound meaning when read by leaders three or four generations away from the land. Proverbs 14:4 talks about an ox and an empty or clean manger, etc. and is not instantly viewed as a proverb that would shape a leader’s thinking or actions. When restated in today’s leadership language it has a profound point; “An empty barn or stable (or business) stays clean but there is no income from an empty stable so get used to working in less than ideal situations.” Read more »

“Though He slay me, yet will I hope in Him” Job 13:15a. There is no way of stopping a leader with this kind of commitment.

Job’s statement must have confounded his tormentor Satan. Though Job had no clue as to what God was doing, he still maintained his commitment and hope in Him. There is nothing that can stop this kind of leader. Not setbacks! Not pain! Not hardships! Not even death! Read more »

Spiritually mature leaders are called to trust God even when they do not understand what He is doing. Read Job 1:1-22.

Job was a wealthy landowner that lived in Northern Arabia somewhere in the neighborhood of 2,000 years before Jesus was born. Based on the scriptural description of Job we would be hard pressed to find a better leadership model. Job was industrious, devoted to God and family, successful, and had a good reputation among his peers. But suddenly without warning signs of any kind disaster struck his business and personal life. Job was a leader wholly dedicated to God and living a righteous life, yet God allowed Satan to viciously tear apart every aspect of Job’s life. How many of us can relate! Read more »

Every leader will face opposition. This opposition might come in the form of ridicule, resistance, rumor or even a physical way. One of the great tests of leadership is how a leader handles opposition. Read Nehemiah 4:1-23.

Nehemiah has mobilized the people living in Jerusalem and the surrounding communities to rebuild the wall around the city of Jerusalem. With a wall in place around the city, Jerusalem would become a defensible city and potentially a regional political and military powerbase. Even though Judah and the surrounding nations were all subject to Persia, the favor of the king went to those cities most strategic to the wealth and defense of Persia. Up until now Jerusalem did not figure into that picture. The people in the surrounding territory were not eager to chance losing the favor of the king or dividing the wealth with Judah and Jerusalem. Read more »

Leaders can make a serious error in judgment and still have a positive impact with the rest of their leadership life. Read 2 Chronicles 11:5-17.

Rehoboam’s leadership is primarily known for a poor decision early in his reign as king of Israel that split the kingdom of Israel into two nations. I don’t think I have ever seen a positive leadership example based on Rehoboam’s life. But even though Rehoboam’s reign as king started poorly, when the entirety of his leadership is viewed, he had some outstanding moments. Read more »