Wisdom and values serve as a leaders safeguard against disaster. Often, wisdom and values develop through a process called double-loop learning. Read Proverbs 2:9-15.

It is an interesting thought that “Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you. Wisdom will save you…” (vv. 11-12a). Normally discretion, understanding and wisdom are not first on our list when we think of offensive weapons or items used for defense and protection. They are not found on the short list of skills or disciplines that we use to protect, guard or save ourselves; yet Proverbs identifies them as the primary elements. Read more »

It is difficult if not impossible for a Christian leader to lead with the moral beauty of God’s truths unless they are grounded in what is written in God’s book the Bible. Read Psalm 119.

Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible. Chapter 119 is filled with words of wisdom and extremely practical information for daily life and leadership. Leaders are urged to value the words of wisdom of God and to treasure it more than anything else in life. In these days of rapid change in our society, leaders must remain adaptable but for Christian leaders this adaptability must come from a foundation of timeless truths that allows them to remain principle-driven even in the face of change. Psalm is a roadmap to wisdom, values and principles. Read more »

A leader must be driven by predetermined values not by expediency for a given situation. Read Psalm 15.

A leader’s values are uncompromisable, undebatable truths that drive and direct their behavior. They are the reason “why” leaders act the way they do. Values are restrictive in that they place boundaries around a leader’s behavior. King David shows he is a value driven leader in Psalm 15 and gives us a list of necessary traits. The godly leader: Read more »

Effective leaders provide for leadership during their long-term absences. Read Nehemiah 13.

Nehemiah is one of the best models of effective leadership in the Bible. But, even Nehemiah left some vital leadership roles unfinished and they ultimately hurt both him and his team. After 12 years in Jerusalem, Nehemiah returned to Babylon to once again serve the king. According to 13:6, “…Some time later I asked his permission and came back to Jerusalem.” Upon his return he learned that a priest had allowed a foreigner to use part of the temple as his extravagant residence, that the people no longer provided provisions for the priests and Levites as required by the Law of God, and that the Jewish residents had violated the covenant they had made with God and were once again intermarrying with pagan neighbors. Read more »

Too often a leader’s core values are just statements written on a wall plaque or talked about at meetings. Wise leaders want their team to understand and apply the established core values. Read Nehemiah 8:8, 13; 9:38 and 10:28-30.

The value system and code of conduct of the Jews living in Judah during Nehemiah’s rule found its basis in writings of Moses. The Jews believed God gave Moses the instructions directly and Moses wrote them down for all future generations to live by. These writings are so profound that most of the laws of the United States yet today find their roots in them. Nehemiah’s leadership challenge was to insure the laws were not just words in a few books stored in the temple but a living code of conduct applied in daily life. Read more »