The Bible not only teaches leaders about God’s nature, leaders can also learn from the many examples of God’s leadership. Read Psalm 23.

When Saul, Israel’s first king, openly disobeyed God, God sent the prophet Samuel to anoint a new king for Israel. He directed Samuel to a farm owned by Jesse and told Samuel he would find the next king among Jesse’s sons. David was approximately 15 years old when Samuel anointed him to be the next king. When Samuel arrived at Jesse’s farm, David was staying in the fields virtually day and night working as a shepherd. Read more »

God provides Christian leaders with power and position to accomplish His ends. Christian leaders make a wise choice when they view their positions as God’s tools to accomplish His purposes. This concept of leader-as-steward is foundational to servant leadership and ethical leadership. Read Esther 2-7.

King Xerxes had banished Queen Vashti in a fit of anger but soon felt the emptiness created by his decision. His advisors consoled him with a plan to bring the most beautiful women from all over his kingdom and allow him to choose his next queen. Read more »

Wise leaders regard their position and power as tools to serve their team not to manipulate others and elevate themselves. Read Esther 1.

The books of Ezra and Nehemiah focus on the Jews that left exile in Babylon to return to Judah and Jerusalem. In contrast, the book of Esther focuses on the Jews that did not go to Judah but stayed in Babylon under Persian control. The Persians were the dominate world power and their empire extended from India to Ethiopia and included all of what we call the Middle East today and was made up of 127 different provinces. The Persian king ruling over this vast empire was named Xerxes. Read more »

Leaders’ integrity is always demonstrated best through their actions. Read Nehemiah 5:14-19.

Nehemiah was appointed governor of Judah and served for approximately 12 years before being recalled for service to King Artaxerxes in Babylon. As governor he was supported in part by taxation. Each family delivered part of a standard allotment of wine, livestock and grain due the governor to feed him, his family and the governor’s staff. Earlier governors had not only taken all their food and wine allotment but had placed an additional financial tax of silver on each family. As almost always happens, when power is abused by a leader, the assistants also took liberties to abuse their power over the people as well. Read more »

John Maxwell speaks often in his writings of 360 degree leadership. Leaders lead no matter where they are on the organizational chart. Read 1 Chronicles 11:1-3.

Saul, the king of Israel, and his sons had been killed in battle with the Philistine army. The people of Israel, knowing that David had been anointed the next king long before Saul’s death, came together and appointed him king of Israel. As the most influential man in the country, David was leading long before Saul’s death and long before the people appointed him king. David was a leader long before he had position or a title. Read more »