WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
AUGUST 16, 2024
TOPIC: LEADERSHIP IS HARD WORK
BY T. O. BANSO
“The next section was to be repaired by the men of Tekoa, but their town leaders refused to do the hard work they were assigned” (Nehemiah 3:5 Contemporary English Version).
One of the key requirements for success in any venture is hard work. People can dream about success and have good plans, but they are deceiving themselves if they don’t work hard to translate their good plans into results. Proverbs 21:5 says, “Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty” (New Living Translation). This is even truer in leadership. Good planning is not enough; hard work is needed to implement good plans. Leadership in the church, government, business, or any other sector is hard work. Leaders who are not hard-working will be a disaster, despite other qualities they may have.
Proverbs 11:14a says without leadership a nation falls. Hard-working leaders are needed, not only to build nations but also families, organizations, etc. Leadership is hard work. A lazy leader with good ideas will end up a failure.
As it is often said, “Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.” Some people erroneously think that leadership is all about enjoyment or comfort. They only focus on the public attention and honour leaders receive and the privileges of office but ignore the hard work that leaders do to excel in their office and make an impact that will make their followers continue to respect and follow them.
In the days of Nehemiah, he led the people of Judah to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, which the Babylonians had destroyed. Nehemiah 3 provides the list of the families and leaders, including the high priest, priests, and Levites, that rebuilt the various sections of the wall. However, Nehemiah 3:5 says, “The next section was to be repaired by the men of Tekoa, but their town leaders refused to do the hard work they were assigned” (Contemporary English Version). Note the phrase “their town leaders refused to do the hard work they were assigned.” These leaders or nobles of Tekoa failed in their responsibility. Leadership is not bearing titles; it is hard work. The New King James Version renders Nehemiah 3:5 thus “Next to them the Tekoites made repairs; but their nobles did not put their shoulders to the work of their Lord.”
Leadership is hard work. Do not desire a leadership position without being prepared to do the hard work it entails. Without hard work, Nehemiah would not have been able to lead the people to complete the reconstruction of the Jerusalem walls in 52 days. Nehemiah said, “So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in fifty-two days. And it happened, when all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations around us saw these things, that they were very disheartened in their own eyes; for they perceived that this work was done by our God” (Nehemiah 6:15-16 New King James Version).
Nehemiah worked hard. Unlike many leaders today who use public offices to line their pockets and enrich their families and cronies, he did not focus on the benefits of his office. Nehemiah said of his sacrifice, “Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year until the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes, twelve years, neither I nor my brothers ate the governor’s provisions. But the former governors who were before me laid burdens on the people, and took from them bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver. Yes, even their servants bore rule over the people, but I did not do so, because of the fear of God. Indeed, I also continued the work on this wall, and we did not buy any land. All my servants were gathered there for the work. And at my table were one hundred and fifty Jews and rulers, besides those who came to us from the nations around us. Now that which was prepared daily was one ox and six choice sheep. Also fowl were prepared for me, and once every ten days an abundance of all kinds of wine. Yet in spite of this I did not demand the governor’s provisions, because the bondage was heavy on this people. Remember me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people” (Nehemiah 5:14-19 New King James Version).
Leadership is hard work. A leader must sacrifice his time and other resources, and work hard – to serve his followers and work with other leaders to achieve the set goals. Leadership is not for selfish interest. Jesus said, “Whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:26b-28 New King James Version). Similarly, Jesus said in Matthew 23:11, “But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant” (New King James Version). A leader is a servant.
Lazy people cannot rise to leadership positions, and those who become lazy in leadership positions cannot be effective leaders. Proverbs 12:24 says, “Work hard and become a leader; be lazy and become a slave” (New Living Translation). Leadership is not for pleasure; it is for hard work. Paul said, among other things, in Romans 12:8, “If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously” (New Living Translation). The New English Translation says, “If it is leadership, he must do so with diligence.”
Leadership is hard work. A leader must not be lazy. “No matter how much you want, laziness won’t help a bit, but hard work will reward you with more than enough” (Proverbs 13:4 Contemporary English Version). Whatever the level of leadership you are in any sector, work hard. “Hard work is worthwhile, but empty talk will make you poor” (Proverbs 14:23 Contemporary English Version). Leaders must walk the talk; they must turn their talk into work. GOD’S WORD Translation says, “In hard work there is always something gained, but idle talk leads only to poverty.” A leader doesn’t achieve his goals by mere talk; he achieves his goals through hard work. “The desire of the lazy man kills him, for his hands refuse to labor” (Proverbs 21:25 New King James Version).
Laziness in leadership sends a wrong signal to followers. Some of them may become lazy while others may quit. Only a few will continue to work hard. It would be morally wrong for a lazy leader to demand hard work from his followers.
Leadership is hard work. Jesus the Son of God showed us the example of hard work when He was on the earth. He didn’t fulfil His ministry just because He is the Son of God. He worked hard. “But Jesus answered them, ‘My Father has been working until now, and I have been working’” (John 5:17 New King James Version).
The apostles were also hard-working. The Apostle Paul said he worked harder than any of the other apostles and that it was not him but God who was working through him by His grace (1 Corinthians 15:10). Also, he wrote to the Thessalonians: “My dear friends, you surely haven’t forgotten our hard work and hardships. You remember how night and day we struggled to make a living, so we could tell you God’s message without being a burden to anyone” (1 Thessalonians 2:9 Contemporary English Version).
Whatever leadership level you are, work hard. In Romans 16:12b, Paul referred to Persis thus: “Greet my dear friend Persis, another woman who has done a lot of hard work for the Lord” (Complete Jewish Bible). Persis did a lot of hard work for Jesus. The New King James Version says she laboured much in the Lord. You, too, should work hard as a leader in your workplace and the kingdom of God.
1 Corinthians 15:58 says, “So, then, brothers and sisters, don’t let anyone move you off the foundation [of your faith]. Always excel in the work you do for the Lord. You know that the hard work you do for the Lord is not pointless” (GOD’S WORD Translation). Note the expression “You know that the hard work you do for the Lord is not pointless.” The New King James Version says, “Knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” Your hard work is not in vain. God will reward you. “But you, be strong and do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded!” (2 Chronicles 15:7 New King James Version).
Leadership is hard work. Work hard.
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. Take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner and cannot save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and God raised Him on the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You must join a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church in your area where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.
PRAYER POINTS: Holy Spirit, help me to be a hard-working leader in the kingdom of God and society. I shall not be lazy, weak, or discouraged; my work shall be rewarded in Jesus’ name.
(For over 900 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).
T. O. Banso is the President of Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947
Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
cedarministryng@gmail.com
Website: www.cedarministry.org
