14 Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year to the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes the king, twelve years, neither I nor my brothers ate the food allowance of the governor. 15 The former governors who were before me laid heavy burdens on the people and took from them for their daily ration forty shekels of silver. Even their servants lorded it over the people. But I did not do so, because of the fear of God. 16 I also persevered in the work on this wall, and we acquired no land, and all my servants were gathered there for the work. 17 Moreover, there were at my table 150 men, Jews and officials, besides those who came to us from the nations that were around us. 18 Now what was prepared at my expense for each day was one ox and six choice sheep and birds, and every ten days all kinds of wine in abundance. Yet for all this I did not demand the food allowance of the governor, because the service was too heavy on this people. 19 Remember for my good, O my God, all that I have done for this people.
(ESV)
STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?
- What is the writer saying?
- How do I apply this to my life?
At some point, Nehemiah was appointed governor of Judah. He was in that position for twelve years from 444 B.C. to 432 B.C. As Governor he was entitled to a food allowance as one of his fringe benefits though he chose not to take it. Previous governors had placed heavy burdens on the people and exploited them for everything they could—even the governor’s servants had lorded over the people. Nehemiah was a different kind of leader. He recognised that certain benefits he might have been entitled to made life significantly more difficult for the people he was leading and so declined to use them. Instead of making use of the food allowance, he paid for his own food, even when entertaining foreign guests. His motivation—fear of God.
Nehemiah’s motivation was pure. He was there to do God’s work, not to build his own empire. He got stuck in and helped with the work on the wall. His servants got involved in the work on the wall as well. He didn’t acquire land (not as collateral for the loans he made, nor for personal wealth). Nehemiah was a servant leader who did God’s work for the good of the people.
Positions of leadership naturally come with certain benefits. The way of the world is to extract maximum benefit from positions of leadership, to acquire power and wealth without regard for those you are leading. God’s way is the opposite. In God’s kingdom, leadership is sacrifice. What are you willing to give up to help those around you?