LEADERSHIP LESSONS FROM JETHRO

BY PASTOR T. O. BANSO

Everybody is a leader in one way or the other. Therefore, everybody needs to improve his leadership skills. The argument of whether leaders are born or leaders are made is immaterial.

You can learn leadership; you can acquire leadership education and skills. That is what this message seeks to help you achieve as we look at a man who enunciated the principle of delegated authority.

Nevertheless, this message is not limited to delegated authority – it’s more than that. I pray that the LORD will enrich your leadership as you read in Jesus’ name.

Reading through Exodus chapter 18, we find some leadership lessons from Jethro, the priest of Midian, a former employer of Moses and father-in-law. These lessons are not arranged in any order of importance.

1. Leaders must listen to what is happening around them and not just bury their heads in their work.“And Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel His people — that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt” (Exodus 18:1 New King James Version). Jethro might not have known about what God had done for the Israelites if he had not been listening. Therefore, he wouldn’t have travelled to see Moses at the time he did.

Leaders need the information to make correct decisions, which can change or improve what they are doing. Quality and timely information is an important part of an organization’s resources.

2. Leaders must have regard or respect for the family. In Exodus 18 verses 1, 2, and 5, Jethro demonstrated respect for the family when he brought Moses’ wife and children back to him.

The Bible does not tell us the time Moses sent his wife and children, back to his father-in-law, or how long they stayed with him. However, we do know that they had earlier left Midian with him as clearly stated in Exodus 4:20: “Then Moses took his wife and his sons and set them on a donkey, and he returned to the land of Egypt. And Moses took the rod of God in his hand” (New King James Version).

Later, in Exodus 18:1-2, the Bible says, “And Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel His people — that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt. Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her back” (New King James Version). Verse 5 says, “And Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness, where he was encamped at the mountain of God” (New King James Version).

Leaders must build homes, not break them. Jethro could have sent for Moses to come and take his wife and his sons or sent them to go on their own to join Moses, but he brought them himself, as a good father and leader. Who knows whether if Jethro had not brought them to Moses they would have remained with him for more time, because of the pressure of his assignment! Nevertheless, work or any project must never destroy or replace family life. We must give priority to the family.

3. Leaders must be selfless, not selfish. Jethro demonstrated selflessness. Just as I have said, he took the trouble to come to Moses and brought Moses’ wife and children to him(Exodus 18:5). He could have sent for him to come and take them when Moses was busy leading the children of Israel in the wilderness. He didn’t make things difficult for Moses; he apparently appreciated the great responsibility he had. Primarily, a leader is not concerned about his convenience, but that of the people he leads.

Visitation is part of leadership responsibility – visiting subordinates or followers at their duty posts, especially impromptu visits, to see how they are faring, and not waiting for them every time to come and brief you.

When a leader visits like this, he may see things, which subordinates have not addressed their minds to, things that need to be done in a better way, new measures that need to be explored, etc. It also boosts the morale of the followers.

This is what the concept of Management by Wandering Around or Management by Walking Around (MBWA) in modern management entails. Management is not just sitting down in your air-conditioned office throughout the day, waiting for reports from subordinates. Such leaders could read data and charts on their laptops, which might be different from the realities on the ground. They are thus deceived. A leader, who practises MBWA, will walk about to see things for himself and even visit jurisdictions under his control. By walking about the work environment, casually, observing and interacting with the workers, he is connected with them, gets useful feedback, identifies problems, offers help, etc.

4. Leaders must be accountable. There must be accountability to a higher level of leadership and to the people (followers). Jethro listened to Moses’ report about what God had done for the Israelites. “And Moses told his father-in-law all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardship that had come upon them on the way, and how the LORD had delivered them” (Exodus 18:8 New King James Version).

In Mark 6:30, the disciples of Jesus gave an account to him on what they had done during their ministry tour and what they had taught. Though Jethro didn’t give Moses the assignment he was doing, it was proper for him to give him a report considering the relationship between them. After all, he had informed Jethro before he went to obey God’s call. “So Moses went and returned to Jethro his father-in-law, and said to him, ‘Please let me go and return to my brethren who are in Egypt, and see whether they are still alive.’ And Jethro said to Moses, ‘Go in peace’” (Exodus 4:18 New King James Version). Therefore, it wasn’t out of place for Moses to brief Jethro when he visited Moses later.

A leader who is not accountable to anyone is dangerous to himself and to those following him and around him. He is even dangerous to the entire society!

5. There must be no envy, bitterness, or competition in leadership, especially in relationships with subordinates or those in lower levels of leadership. Jethro demonstrated this. He expressed joy and gratitude to God for what He had done through Moses.“And Moses told his father-in-law all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardship that had come upon them on the way, and how the LORD had delivered them. Then Jethro rejoiced for all the good which the LORD had done for Israel, whom He had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians. And Jethro said, ‘Blessed be the LORD, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh, and who has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. Now I know that the LORD is greater than all the gods; for in the very thing in which they behaved proudly, He was above them.’ Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burnt offering and other sacrifices to offer to God. And Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law before God” (Exodus 18:8-12 New King James Version).

Insecure leaders don’t celebrate their subordinates’ success and progress, because they are envious. They see them as rivals. Celebrate leaders under you; celebrate your mentees. They are not perfect, and nobody is, but encourage them.

6. A leader can observe and correct younger leaders who have relationships with him but are not directly under his control; however, he should avoid being intrusive or meddlesome. Jethro observed what Moses was doing – how he was judging the people – but he didn’t intrude to correct what he perceived was wrong. He only drew Moses’ attention to it. “So when Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he did for the people, he said, ‘What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit, and all the people stand before you from morning until evening?’” (Exodus 18:14 New King James Version)

Jethro knew Moses was the one in charge, not himself; so he respected his authority. Jethro knew his bounds. Jethro’s approach could have been different if Moses were directly under his leadership. However, he knew that he didn’t assign him the job; God did.

7. A leader must ask questions. He must ask questions from leaders above him, subordinates or those who look up to him. Moses did this in verse 14 as seen above. A leader must not assume; he must be inquisitive. Jethro asked Moses why he alone was judging the people.

Questions provide answers, which can give birth to more questions or provide information useful to the leader. Moses’ answer was not satisfactory, and Jethro gave him counsel on what would be helpful and make him more effective and efficient.

8. To be effective and efficient, a leader must engage in continuous education. One dies when one stops learning. Nobody knows it all. Moses was leading an estimated population of 4 million people, but the Bible only records about 600, 000 men on foot, besides women and children (Exodus 12:37). He appeared to have needed more leadership lessons from the Jethro School of Leadership Studies! New lessons that he probably didn’t learn when he was in Jethro’s employment!

It is important for senior leaders to continue to teach younger or junior leaders. That was what Jethro did. “So Moses’ father-in-law said to him, ‘The thing that you do is not good. Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself. Listen now to my voice; I will give you counsel, and God will be with you: Stand before God for the people, so that you may bring the difficulties to God. And you shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do. Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. And let them judge the people at all times. Then it will be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they themselves shall judge. So it will be easier for you, for they will bear the burden with you.  If you do this thing, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all this people will also go to their place in peace’” (Exodus 18:17-23 New King James Version).

However, it is one thing to be taught, but another thing to be teachable. Jethro taught Moses and Moses was teachable. “So Moses heeded the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said. And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people: rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. So they judged the people at all times; the hard cases they brought to Moses, but they judged every small case themselves” (verses 24-26 New King James Version).

Leaders, at whatever level, must be teachable. That does not mean that a leader must take every piece of advice; not even every good piece of advice is from God for a leader. That is why the next leadership lesson is very important.

9. Leaders must acknowledge that God has the final say in people’s personal lives, notwithstanding the advice they give them. Leaders must not try to play God in people’s lives. They can advise people but must acknowledge that God’s Word is final. Therefore, leaders must avoid imposition, manipulation, or control with regard to issues, which are within the jurisdiction of people to decide on. Leaders should allow the people to hear from God and decide. There should be no coercion regarding personal decisions.

Jethro knew his bounds. He gave Moses counsel, but he didn’t impose his advice, manipulate him or coerce him. He acknowledged that God, not he, had the final say on the matter. Hear Jethro: “If you follow this advice, and if God commands you to do so, then you will be able to endure the pressures, and all these people will go home in” (Exodus 18:23 New Living Translation).

Some leaders feel bad when they give advice to a junior, and he fails to act on it. There is no reason to feel bad provided it is within the other person’s jurisdiction to make a decision. It’s a different thing if the power to make a decision on the matter lies with the superior. A superior’s advice cannot supersede God’s will for another person. A leader must avoid lording it over the people he leads, including those in the lower levels of leadership (Mark 10:42; Luke 22:25). 

10. Delegation of authority is a requirement for effective leadership. Leadership is not one man trying to do the work of ten people. It is one man getting ten people to work to achieve organizational goals. To achieve this, a leader must delegate his authority to leaders under him to mobilize and motivate others to work.

Jethro advised Moses, “Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. And let them judge the people at all times. Then it will be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they themselves shall judge. So it will be easier for you, for they will bear the burden with you” (Exodus 18:21-22 New King James Version).In other words, Moses should no longer be the only one judging the Israelites. The persons chosen would judge fellow Israelites at all times, judging the small cases brought to them and referring the great matters to Moses. They were Judges.

Delegation is not the same as abdication!  It is true that people will do what you expect if they know you’ll inspect. “So the people of Israel followed all of the Lord’s instructions to Moses.  Then Moses inspected all their work. When he found it had been done just as the Lord had commanded him, he blessed them” (Exodus 39:42-43 New Living Translation). Delegate, but don’t abdicate.

Delegation puts more people to work, breaks the work down, ensures speedy and better results, and makes things easier for the top leadership. Nevertheless, a leader must be secure before he can delegate authority; an insecure leader won’t delegate authority. Thus, he sabotages himself and the organization he leads.

11. Top leadership should not be involved in every matter, but be concerned with weighty matters or knotty issues, which subordinates cannot handle. No leader should assume he can do everything. Jethro told Moses, “You’re going to wear yourself out—and the people, too. This job is too heavy a burden for you to handle all by yourself” (Exodus 18:18 New Living Translation).

As we saw earlier in verse 22, Jethro told Moses to appoint other leaders. “And let them judge the people at all times. Then it will be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they themselves shall judge. So it will be easier for you, for they will bear the burden with you” (verse 22 New King James Version). In Deuteronomy 1:12, Moses himself admitted the weight of the burden of leadership on him: “How can I alone bear your problems and your burdens and your complaints?” (New King James Version).

We have seen that Moses took Jethro’s advice. He appointed tribal leaders– leaders of thousands, leaders of hundreds, leaders of fifties, leaders of tens, and officers for the tribes to judge cases brought to them(Exodus 18:21; Deuteronomy 1:15). As I have said, these were judges. However, the burden of leadership was still too much on Moses, especially because of the complaining attitude of the Israelites. He had to cry to God when it was becoming unbearable for him. He even asked God to kill him!

“Then Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, everyone at the door of his tent; and the anger of the LORD was greatly aroused; Moses also was displeased. So Moses said to the LORD, ‘Why have You afflicted Your servant? And why have I not found favor in Your sight, that You have laid the burden of all these people on me? Did I conceive all these people? Did I beget them, that You should say to me, ‘Carry them in your bosom, as a guardian carries a nursing child,’ to the land which You swore to their fathers?  Where am I to get meat to give to all these people? For they weep all over me, saying, ‘Give us meat, that we may eat.’  I am not able to bear all these people alone, because the burden is too heavy for me.   If You treat me like this, please kill me here and now — if I have found favor in Your sight — and do not let me see my wretchedness!’” (Numbers 11:10-15New King James Version). Jethro was right when he told him earlier that the burden was too much for one man to carry.

God responded to Moses’ cry, going beyond what Moses had done when he appointed as judges the Israelites who met certain criteria. God took out of the Spirit upon Moses and put it upon the leaders or elders so that they would be able to do what Moses could do. This appears to be a dimension higher than Jethro’sadvice. Only God could do that. “So the LORD said to Moses: ‘Gather to Me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers over them; bring them to the tabernacle of meeting, that they may stand there with you. Then I will come down and talk with you there. I will take of the Spirit that is upon you and will put the same upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, that you may not bear it yourself alone’” (Numbers 11:16-17  New King James Version).

Moses immediately acted on God’s instruction, which led to the appointment of seventy out of the elders of Israel, upon whom God put the Spirit that was upon Moses. “So Moses went out and told the people the words of the LORD, and he gathered the seventy men of the elders of the people and placed them around the tabernacle. Then the LORD came down in the cloud, and spoke to him, and took of the Spirit that was upon him, and placed the same upon the seventy elders; and it happened, when the Spirit rested upon them, that they prophesied, although they never did so again” (verses 24-25 New King James Version). This is awesome! It is important that those appointed as leaders have the same Spirit that is in the leaders that appointed them. They should share in his Spirit. There should be unity of Spirit, one Spirit (Ephesians 4:3-4).In other words, they should have and walk in the Holy Spirit that is in their leaders- the same Holy Spirit that Jesus Christ has given to the church.

Nevertheless, something else significant happened in the appointment of these seventy elders as stated in verses 26-30: “But two men had remained in the camp: the name of one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad. And the Spirit rested upon them. Now they were among those listed, but who had not gone out to the tabernacle; yet they prophesied in the camp. And a young man ran and told Moses, and said, ‘Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.’ So Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, one of his choice men, answered and said, ‘Moses my lord, forbid them!’ Then Moses said to him, ‘Are you zealous for my sake? Oh, that all the LORD’s people were prophets and that the LORD would put His Spirit upon them!’ And Moses returned to the camp, he and the elders of Israel’” (New King James Version). Did you see that?

It is when a leader’s work is still small that he can be easily possessive of power and not let go. He does everything himself. He doesn’t want anyone under him to share the limelight with him. He continues to suspect and suppress those who should have helped the work to grow and his vision to be fulfilled. Such a leader may have his way, but, unfortunately, he will remain small. However, a leader whose workload is huge and who tries to do that will incapacitate himself or die prematurely!

As a leader, don’t try to do it alone if you don’t want to die before your time. It is true some around you or under you may have an ulterior motive – that is why you delegate, but you don’t abdicate. However, you must deal with selfishness and insecurity in your life, if you’re guilty of these, as they won’t help you.

Leaders need other leaders, willing to share the burden with them because the burden is too much for one leader to carry (Deuteronomy 1:9, 12). In Exodus 24, before Moses went up into the mountain, he said to the elders, “Wait here for us until we come back to you. Indeed, Aaron and Hur are with you. If any man has a difficulty, let him go to them” (verse 14 New King James Version).

As a leader, if you must go higher, if you must have time to be alone with God, you must have leaders who can handle issues in your absence, otherwise, you’ll either become immobile, being tied down solving the routine problems of the people, or you leave them and return to meet things in a bad shape or in confusion. That doesn’t mean that the leaders under you will not make mistakes sometimes – you make mistakes too.

Aaron was a leader under Moses, but he succumbed to pressure from the Israelites and led them into idolatry. He made for them the golden calf. “Now when the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, the people gathered together to Aaron, and said to him, ‘Come, make us gods that shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ And Aaron said to them, ‘Break off the golden earrings which are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.’ So all the people broke off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them to Aaron. And he received the gold from their hand, and he fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made a molded calf. Then they said, ‘This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!’  So when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it. And Aaron made a proclamation and said, ‘Tomorrow is a feast to the LORD.’ Then they rose early on the next day, offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play” (Exodus 32:1-6 New King James Version).

That was a serious sin on Aaron’s part, showing a weakness in his character as a leader. Aaron’s explanation to Moses thereafter about why and how he made the calf was a lame excuse (verses 21-24). He shouldn’t have yielded to the sinful demand of the people. He shouldn’t have allowed the people to set him against his leader and brother, Moses, with whom he had been leading the people. You may wish to recall that he was the official spokesman before Pharaoh, and God, through him, had performed miracles for the release of the Israelites (Exodus 4:30; 7:10-13; 19-21; 8:5-6; 16-17) as He also did through Moses. Aaron, making for the Israelites the golden calf, amounted to leading them in rebellion against his leader, Moses, and against God.

God would have destroyed Israel but for the intercession of Moses. Hear the question Moses asked Aaron: “What did this people do to you that you have brought so great a sin upon them?”  (Exodus 32:21 New King James Version). Here was someone that God had been talking to Moses about on the Mountain where he went, telling Moses to consecrate him and his sons as priests (Exodus 29:29-37, 30:30). Down where he was with the people, he was leading them into idolatry. See how Satan was trying to pervert his destiny. Thank God, he was not disqualified.

A leader must guide against his followers leading him astray. I’m sure it was a big leadership lesson for Aaron. A leader’s loyalty is primarily not to any other human being but to the person who appointed him. Moreover, when a leader stops following God, leaders under him shouldn’t follow him in his error, but keep following God. A leader doesn’t go into error alone; his followers are usually vulnerable to going along with him. “And the LORD sent a great plague upon the people because they had worshiped the calf Aaron had made” (Exodus 32:35 New Living Translation).

We see another error in leadership in the case of the ten out of the twelve heads (leaders) of the tribes of Israel sent as spies to Canaan but who discouraged the people from going to possess the land (Deuteronomy 1:19-33; Numbers 13). Leaders under a leader can commit errors in the assignment given to them. That is why a leader must oversee and inspect and intervene where there are deviations.

However, despite the risk involved in delegating power, a leader who will be effective and efficient must acknowledge that he cannot achieve so much by leading alone. He must share leadership with others. Sharing power is also an antidote to power abuse by top leadership.

12. Leaders must avoid wearing out themselves and their followers. This happens when leaders try to do more than they can possibly do. Jethro told Moses, “Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out” (Exodus 18:18 New King James Version). No matter how anointed a man is, he is still a human being! There is a limit to the capacity that a man can possess. A leader must exert himself and leave his comfort zone. However, to try to continue to do more than his capacity will wear him out. This is the reason many suffer burnout. They are too busy and fail to create enough time for rest. The leader must review any process that wears him and the people out. When people are worn out by a leader’s style, they become frustrated and may decide to quit if the leadership becomes irredeemable.

The solution to this is delegation of power. It is a win-win situation for both the leaders and the followers. Avoid exhausting yourself and the people; it doesn’t increase productivity.

13. Leaders, especially top leaders, must teach the people the Word of God and pray for them. Jethro told Moses, “And you shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do” (Exodus 18:20 New King James Version).

At Saul’s coronation, Samuel told the Israelites, “Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way” (1Samuel 12:23 New King James Version).  It is a sin for a leader not to pray for the followers. He must also teach them the Word of God.

Even in secular leadership, a leader who lifts up his people before God and teaches and practises Godly principles will achieve better results. The spiritual controls the physical. Many things can be determined in the spirit.

Jesus taught the disciples how to pray and prayed for them. The bulk of his three and a half years was spent teaching the disciples and mentoring them. Acts 1:1 talks of everything Jesus began to do and teach. Jesus prayed for His disciples (John 17:6-19). In Luke 22:32, Jesus said he had prayed for Peter that his faith should not fail. Jesus also prayed for all believers (John 17:20-26). In his epistles, Paul prayed for the different churches (Ephesians 1:15-19, 3:14-19; Philippians 1:9-11; Colossians 1:3, 9-12).

14. Those recruited or appointed into leadership must fulfill certain criteria. They must meet certain requirements. As an organization grows, more leaders will be needed. Jethro said leaders must be competent (capable), honest, God-fearing, and incorruptible (Exodus 18:21). These should be the minimum requirements, even in secular leadership – school, public service, business, politics, etc. Those who don’t meet the requirements should not be appointed; standards must not be compromised on the altar of need.

Moses also gave the qualities or requirements for the appointment of tribal leaders in Israel. “Choose wise, understanding, and knowledgeable men from among your tribes, and I will make them heads over you” (Deuteronomy 1:13 New King James Version). He continues in verse 15: “So I took the heads of your tribes, wise and knowledgeable men, and made them heads over you, leaders of thousands, leaders of hundreds, leaders of fifties, leaders of tens, and officers for your tribes” (New King James Version).

In Acts 6:3, Peter gave us the criteria used to appoint the first deacons. “Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business” (Acts 6:3 New King James Version).

However, in 1 Timothy 3:8-13, Paul gave a more comprehensive list of qualifications to be used in the church for the appointment of deacons. “Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless. Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus” (New King James Version).

Moreover, to qualify for the office of an elder or bishop, one must satisfy the conditions in 1 Timothy 3:2-7 and Titus 1:5-9. Benchmarks must be set for prospective leaders; leadership must not be for all-comers. There should be minimum criteria prospective leaders must satisfy.

15. Leadership is in levels. Not all leaders are equal. Every leader must know his level. Moses talked about leaders of a thousand, a hundred, fifty, and ten. In other words, some leaders were responsible for a thousand people, some for a hundred people, some for fifty, and some for ten (Exodus 18:21; Deuteronomy 1:15). There are similar categories of these leaders everywhere, and each level has its own peculiar challenges.

Every leader should know his level! Leaders must not place subordinates above their leadership capacity or competence. It can render them ineffective, leading to discouragement or worse consequences.

16. Every leader must know the limit of his power and ability. A leader must know when to refer a case to his superior. Hear again Jethro’s advice to Moses: “And let them judge the people at all times. Then it will be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they themselves shall judge” (Exodus 18:22 New King James Version).

Not every leader would be able to handle every matter. Medical doctors know when to refer a case to a senior or a consultant/specialist in that field. There is no point for the doctor to be playing with a patient’s life when there is someone more knowledgeable to look into the patient’s case. Failure to refer a case, which requires a referral, will be considered unprofessional or unethical.

Moses told the Israelites, “If a matter arises which is too hard for you to judge, between degrees of guilt for bloodshed, between one judgment or another, or between one punishment or another, matters of controversy within your gates, then you shall arise and go up to the place which the LORD your God chooses.  And you shall come to the priests, the Levites, and to the judge there in those days, and inquire of them; they shall pronounce upon you the sentence of judgment. You shall do according to the sentence which they pronounce upon you in that place which the LORD chooses. And you shall be careful to do according to all that they order you.  According to the sentence of the law in which they instruct you, according to the judgment which they tell you, you shall do; you shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left from the sentence which they pronounce upon you. Now the man who acts presumptuously and will not heed the priest who stands to minister there before the LORD your God, or the judge, that man shall die. So you shall put away the evil from Israel. And all the people shall hear and fear, and no longer act presumptuously” (Deuteronomy 17:8-13 New King James Version).

A leader must not allow ego to blind his sense of judgment.  He must know when to consult his superior for help or input in handling a matter. He must know when he is incompetent to handle a matter based on the schedule of work or power given to him. Going beyond the limit of one’s power amounts to abuse of power. The appointing authorities have had to reprimand or sanction many leaders because of this offence.

Conclusion: Leadership is crucial to the attainment of any goal, whether personal goal or institutional, as you will always have to deal with people in the pursuit of goals. Leadership is a versed area of study, whether spiritual or secular. One must keep learning. I believe that you have learnt some things from what I have shared in this message. I pray that this will help you to improve your leadership and fulfill the purpose of God for your life. You shall not fail in Jesus’ name.  

TAKE ACTION!

If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. I urge you to take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner and you 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 will need to 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.

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