Leaders Express High Expectations & Model Servanthood

Nehemiah communicated high expectations and modeled excellence and
self-sacrifice in his own commitment to the project the LORD called him to lead.

Leaders Express High Expectations & Model Servanthood

This week's devotions are written by my friend Dr. Ken Coley, Director of Ed.D. Studies and Senior Professor of Christian Education at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

- Pastor Danny

"So we rebuilt the wall until the entire wall was joined together
up to half its height, for the people had the will to keep working."

(Nehemiah 4:6)

In our walk-through Nehemiah this week, we have spent time in chapters 1-3 and identified significant leadership behaviors modeled by a man mightily used by God. In chapter one, while serving as cupbearer to the Persian king, Nehemiah got news from Jerusalem that the city was in disarray and was a disgrace to God's name and His chosen people. He was brokenhearted by this report and spent weeks in prayer asking the Lord for His vision.

In chapter two, the Persian King Artaxerxes asked about Nehemiah's troubled countenance and provided his cupbearer with the moment for which he had been waiting. The result of this conversation: the King's permission to leave for Jerusalem, an armed escort to ensure safe passage, and a shopping list to be filled in the King's Forest; Nehemiah departed on the long journey, more importantly, in God's timing. Once in Zion, he waited three days and conducted a prayer walk around the city late one night. Then Nehemiah shared his vision for the rebuilding of the city wall and the connecting gates. The city's elders and citizens said, "Let's rebuild!"

In chapter three, we observed Nehemiah build unity throughout the community by challenging each family to take ownership of the repairs necessary for the section of the wall adjacent to their neighborhood. Nearly the entire population set to work immediately.

In today's devotional, we will add two more leadership behaviors to our list: Nehemiah communicates high expectations and models servanthood leadership. Our focal verse (verse 6) points out: "So we rebuilt the wall until the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had the will to keep working." From the outset of the project, Nehemiah, the cupbearer turned General Contractor, and His newly recruited laborers faced opposition and threats. Most readers would be surprised if there had not been doubters and haters. Every movement of God will be confronted by opposition. How was it that this construction crew comprised of novices could so quickly get the project to 50% completion, especially with intimidating enemies threatening to attack at any moment?

But Nehemiah had a plan, including his own refusal to be distracted. First, this leader continued to be a man of prayer (v. 4-5, 9) and pointed his followers to trust in God as their protector (v. 14). Second, Nehemiah communicated high expectations by requiring every worker to carry his own weapon even while carrying a load (v. 17). And the builders had their sword strapped to their waists while they worked (v. 18). Not only that, but the laborers were expected to stay all night at the worksite and take turns standing watch during the night (v. 22). And you think your supervisor is demanding!

Further strengthening the resolve of his construction crew, Nehemiah and his entourage modeled excellence in their own commitment to the massive undertaking (v. 23): "And I, my brothers, my servants, and the men of the guard with me never took off our clothes. Each carried his weapon, even when washing." One simple snapshot speaks volumes: the man in charge is no different than every other employee. He and the top administrators modeled sacrifice and service to the ideals of this project.

I imagine all of us can remember times in our own lives when these two leadership behaviors were violated. Often a leader will lower expectations for fear that no one will show up. And often no one does! Here, Nehemiah, in the face of fear, raises expectations and, in so doing, strengthens everyone's resolve. And we have also listened to a leader cast a vision with specific expectations, only to violate the standards himself. Nothing will doom a project any faster.

Want to lead with high expectations? You can become the one who defines excellence, just as Nehemiah does in chapter 4. Not changing your clothes and carrying a weapon are probably not your best approaches. But showing up and serving with those around you, shoulder to shoulder, until the work is done and the worksite cleaned, will go a long way to leading others to be successful.