Nehemiah 3 – Leadership Invites Teamwork

We continue the Sunday Series today on leadership lessons from Nehemiah.

Nehemiah 3- Leadership Invites Teamwork 

Teamwork: I got this dad.

Part 1- Teams Delegate

1.  Nehemiah’s assessment involved determining what the best approach was going to be.  The people needed to be inspired to participate in this project.  So he gave different people different sections of the wall to take on some ownership.   This allowed them to have a hand in the overall project while also repairing the bonds with each other while getting  a lot of work done at one time.

“Servant leaders entrusted with a mission cannot complete that mission on their own.  God gives us work to do that is beyond the abilities of a single person, and a leader learns to involve others — their wisdom, gifts and callings” (Gene Wilkes, Jesus on Leadership)

Leadership Principle # 1-  Leaders realize that they cannot do it all themselves.  In order to be effective in leadership, teams must be formed where people have tasks delegated to them.  This builds community and accomplishes different, simultaneous jobs well.

Part 2- Teams Cooperate

1.  The cooperation that was taking place to rebuild this wall was nothing short of a miracle.  This was a change that only God could take the credit for.  In the true essence of team work, everyone had their job and worked together to get it done.  Whatever issues they had with each other over the years of despair had been overshadowed by this important task.

Leadership Principle #2- Leaders are able to encourage people to cooperate and get a task done.

 2.  Nehemiah uses great wisdom in the way he puts people to work.  He did this by placing them on a section of the wall that was near where they lived.  This naturally incites responsibility because most people will defend their home.

“Beyond them, Benjamin and Hasshub made repairs in front of their house; and next to them, Azariah son of Masseiah, the song of Ananiah , made repairs beside his house.”  (Nehemiah 3:23)

Leadership Principle # 3-  Leaders are willing to give responsibility to capable people who will take ownership for a task.

What are the implications for your particular situation?  Are there tasks at home or at work that you are responsible for?  How might you delegate some of these things like Nehemiah did?  He had some success at it.  We can definitely learn some things from him.