#427: Powerful, Faithful Godly Leaders Embody These Two Traits

I don’t know about you, but I am tired of self-centered leaders who use their power and influence to benefit themselves!

Frankly, it doesn’t matter whether you’re talking about government, business, or even non-profit organizations. We seem surrounded by self-centered leaders who are focused more on what their positions can do for them rather than what they can do for the people they serve.

This is not the way God intended leaders to lead!

In the following three examples, we see how God replaced self-centered leaders and lifted up Godly leaders who were servant-hearted focused on service.

Josiah vs. Jehoiakim

Josiah became king of Judah when he was only eight years old. By the time he was 16 years old, Josiah had rejected his father and grandfather’s idolatry and sought God like his ancestor, David. One of the first things Josiah did as a young king was to purge the country of all forms of idolatry. Then Josiah set about rebuilding the temple of God in Jerusalem. During the temple’s reconstruction, someone found a book of the Law and read it to Josiah. Josiah humbled himself before God, called the leaders of Judah together, and renewed the covenant between God and the people to follow God’s Law (2 Chronicles 34-35).

Jehoiakim was the son of Josiah. The prophet, Jeremiah, describes Jehoiakim, king of Judah, as an unrighteous man. Jehoiakim built an enormous palace and enriched himself by cheating his workers. Jeremiah characterized Jehoiakim as a man whose heart was set only on “dishonest gain, shedding innocent blood and on oppression and extortion” (Jeremiah 22:17).

Josiah’s primary concern for himself and the people of Judah was their relationship with God. Jehoiakim turned the people away from God and used his power as king to enrich himself at the people’s expense.

Shebna vs. Eliakim

Shebna was the palace administrator, a powerful position under Hezekiah. As the Assyrians were preparing to invade Judah, Shebna occupied himself constructing a fancy tomb for himself a few miles outside of Jerusalem. Through the prophet Isaiah, God confronted Shebna with his dereliction of duty and announced Eliakim as his replacement (Isaiah 22:15-21).

Isaiah’s prophecy came true when Shebna was replaced as palace administrator by Eliakim. Isaiah describes Eliakim as a servant of God who became like a strong father over the people of Judah (Isaiah 22: 20-24).

Shebna was removed from his position by God because he selfishly neglected his duties as a leader. God replaced Shebna with Eliakim, who was a servant of God and cared for the people of Judah.

Ebed-Melech vs. King Zedekiah

The King of Babylon conquered Judah and installed Zedekiah as king of Judah. Jeremiah, the prophet of God, warned the king the Babylonians would return and burn Jerusalem to the ground. A group of military officials accused Jeremiah of treason.

Instead of using his power to protect Jeremiah, Zedekiah told the military commanders they could do whatever they wanted to Jeremiah. So, they had Jeremiah thrown into a cistern and left him to die of starvation.

Ebed-Melech, a eunuch servant in the palace, heard about what was done to Jeremiah and was determined to save him. Ebed-Melech bravely confronted Zedekiah and secured permission to rescue Jeremiah. Ebed-Melech gathered some soldiers, carefully lifted Jeremiah out of the cistern, and ensured his safety with the palace guards’ help.

King Zedekiah refused to listen to a prophet of God, instead choosing to listen to men who accused Jeremiah falsely, then failed to use his power to save Jeremiah.

Ebed-Melech risked his life to confront the king’s impropriety and then bravely rescued and cared for Jeremiah.

2 Traits of Powerful, Godly Leaders

In these examples (and many others throughout the scripture), we see two traits of powerful, Godly leaders: servanthood and service.

Servanthood

Servanthood is an attitude of the heart. Servant-hearted leaders care about the people they are leading/serving. Josiah, Eliakim, and Ebed-Melech each demonstrated their servant heart in the way they put other’s safety and security ahead of their own.

Service

A servant-hearted leader takes action that benefits others. They don’t just care about others; they act to help or protect others in some significant way.

3 Results of Servanthood and Service

The prophet Isaiah described a future Davidic ruler who would lead with justice, righteousness, and faithfulness that benefits the needy and brings peace and harmony to the people (Isaiah 11:3-9).

Justice, righteousness, and faithfulness to God are hallmarks of servanthood and servant leaders. God lifts up leaders who demonstrate these traits. Leaders who do not ultimately come to ruin.

It behooves each of us leaders to continually assess how we use our position’s power and influence. Are we servant-hearted Godly leaders who lead with justice, righteousness, and faithfulness to benefit the needy and bring peace and harmony to the people? Or do we use our positions of leadership to benefit ourselves selfishly?

More Articles

I have written several articles on Godly leaders and servant leadership. You can find them by typing “servant leadership” in the search bar. Meanwhile, here are a few of my favorites.

• #147: Is Being a Servant Leader Really a Good Thing?
• #238: What Does It Take to be a Godly Leader or Follower?
• #306: What I See in the Rearview Mirror
• #309: Do You Know This Servant-Hearted Seamstress Who Caused A Revival?
• #374: Is Serving What We Are Called to Do?
• #414: What Is Different About A Leader in The Kingdom of God?

Join the Conversation

As always, questions and comments are welcome. On a scale of 1-10, how would you score your own leadership? Are you leading with your heart to benefit others, or are you leading to benefit yourself?

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Category: Relationships | Servant Leadership