Issue #121, January 21, 2014
Why would a servant leader throw someone’s household possessions on the street? Ask Nehemiah! “I was greatly displeased and threw all Tobiah's household goods out of the room” (Nehemiah 13:8). This is not a picture of a weak passive leader. Nor is it an example of an angry dictator. Nehemiah is another picture of the tension great servant leaders balance between boldness and humility. In what ways does Nehemiah demonstrate both?
Boldness requires a servant leader to confront corporate wrong.
Nehemiah’s action against Tobiah was a bold confrontation of wrong. Tobiah had taken advantage of his relationship with the priest for selfish gain. This is not the only time Nehemiah boldly confronted wrong. When the people were taking advantage of the poor, he became angry, called a meeting and demanded a change (Nehemiah 5:1-13). When they were guilty of working on the Sabbath, he closed the doors and stationed guards to change the practice, even threatening to “lay hands on” those who violated his instruction (Nehemiah 13:15-22). When the people intermarried with foreigners Nehemiah rebuked them, beat and pulled out their beards! (Nehemiah 13: 23-27). (I do not recommend that you try all of his tactics, but we can all follow his example of boldly confronting corporate wrong!)
Servant leaders have courage to confront the sin of those they lead. Their leadership is based on clear moral principles, not on popular opinion. Like Nehemiah, they confront wrong with a motive to correct and to change, not to destroy or take personal revenge. At home, in the office, on the job, or in the church, servant leaders see themselves as representatives of God’s kingdom and speak out boldly when they see violations of His will. This is not a personal battle, or retaliation against those who resist them. Servant leaders confront wrong only in response to clear disobedience of God’s will. But then they confront the wrong with boldness.
Humility enables a servant leader to confess personal wrong.
The boldness of Nehemiah to confront corporate wrong flowed from his earlier confession of personal wrong. His story begins with a prayer of humble confession in which he confesses both his own sin and the sins of his people (Nehemiah 1:5-11). Later, when he called the people to repent and turn back to God, he was the first to sign the document of confession and renewal (Nehemiah 10:1).
Some leaders boldly confront the sins of others, but are unwilling to deal with their own. Jesus compared these leaders to one who focuses on a speck of sawdust in other people’s eyes, while missing the plank in their own (Matthew 7:3-5). Servant leaders quickly acknowledge their own weakness and their continued need for God’s grace. They do not wait for their sin to be exposed and then quickly issue a public apology. Instead, they allow God to search their hearts and humbly acknowledge the sin exposed there. Seeing our own sin and acknowledging our own need for God’s grace allows us to extend the same grace and freedom to others. We are able to confront boldly yet with a deep humility instead of pride.
This humility forms the foundation from which a servant leader can boldly confront the sin of others. Only when personal sin is confessed does a servant leader have the moral authority to confront sin in others. When personal sin is first acknowledged, confrontation of corporate sin is done in a spirit of humility rather than pride.
Confrontation of corporate wrong without humility leads to chaos and rebellion. Humble confession of personal sins without confrontation of corporate sins does not lead to change. But when servant leaders combine humble confession of personal sin with bold confrontation of corporate sin, genuine transformation of individuals and the community is made possible. Let’s lead with bold humility like Nehemiah!
Until next time, yours on the journey,
Jon Byler
For further reflection and discussion:
- Read the entire story of Nehemiah’s leadership looking for other examples of his boldness, and humility. In what ways does his life instruct the way you lead?
- Which comes most naturally to you as a leader, boldly confronting wrong or humbly confessing wrong? What happens when this one is not balanced by the other?
- Have you experienced a situation in which a leader boldly confronted wrong but lacked personal humility? What was the result and what can you learn from this leader?
- On the other hand, have you experienced the situation in which a leader had great humility but lacked the boldness to confront wrong in others? What was the result and what can you learn from this experience?
- Are there current sins in your own life which need confession before you look at others?
- In the group you lead are there corporate sins which need bold confrontation?
In the next issue, we will look at the life of Peter as a profile of bold humility.
Copyright, Jon Byler 2014.