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The Qualities of a Good Leader
by: Rev. Conrad Tolosa
1. Wisdom - The quality which enables man to apply knowledge according to the will of God. Knowledge is necessary to have wisdom, because it is necessary to learn and understand God’s purposes and ways. However, it does not necessarily follow that a knowledgeable man has become a wise man. One must learn and know how to apply knowledge in a way pleasing to God. Foolishness is the opposite of wisdom.
Eve thought that she would acquire wisdom by eating of the forbidden fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. She chose to disobey God and as a consequence lost everything that was already hers in Paradise including her spiritual relationship with God. Adam followed the lead of Eve instead of providing wise leadership that could have possibly prevented this particular event from happening. After all, it was to him that God gave the command "not to eat of that specific fruit" - a breakdown in leadership resulting in the suffering of the whole human race (Genesis 2:15-3:7).
Joseph understood the ways of God because Wisdom gave him insight into God's purpose and plan to preserve His people by means of a great deliverance (Genesis 37:1-45:28).
Joshua was given wisdom in order to bring God's plan of taking the Hebrew nation to the land which God had given them to its successful conclusion (Joshua 1:1-11:23).
Solomon asked for and was given wisdom that he might rule the people of God with justice (1 Kings 3:1-28).
Scripture exhorts us to “Get wisdom, get understanding” (Proverbs 4:5a); “Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding” (Proverbs 4:7).
2. Discernment - The quality which enables man to distinguish between good and evil. It includes the idea of testing or examination in order to make a determination. Shortsightedness is the opposite of discernment - the inability to perceive what is true, good and right.
The Bible tells us that Adam was with Eve when she was tempted by the serpent (Genesis 3:6). When the serpent called God a liar, it placed the man and the woman in a circumstance which demanded that they make a decision. Adam could have led his wife out of that ominous situation but decided to do nothing. Eve had to decide whom to believe - God or the serpent. Because Adam and Eve knew what God had said, and forbidden, they knew what was true (what conforms to the word of God), good (what is pleasing to God) and right (what conforms to God’s will). They should have known that keeping their faith in God’s word is wisdom. But they allowed their ambitious pride to cloud their minds and decided to put their trust on the serpent, instead. Their disobedience caused them to lose God’s favor.
Joseph being wise and discerning, was able to perceive what was needed to be done to prepare Egypt for a severe famine and was able to make a determination of how such preparation can be accomplished. He was able to visualize the entire operation of God's preservation plan because of clear-sightedness (Genesis 41:1-57).
Scripture exhorts us: "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world" (1 John 4:1). "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12). 3. Faith - The quality which enables man to live in the certainty of God's statements, promises and directives. Faith believes God and acts upon His word. The opposite of faith is unbelief which always results in disobedience.
Noah believed God when he was warned about things not yet seen. In reverence, Noah prepared an ark according to the specifications given by God. Unbelief and unbelievers perished when the flood waters came (Genesis 6:1-7:24).
Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out not knowing where he was going, looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder was God (Genesis 12:1-5; Acts 7:2-5; Hebrews 11:8-10).
Scripture exhorts us: “…without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6). “…faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ (Romans 10:17). Matthew 9:29 says that Jesus touched the eyes of two blind men and said, "According to your faith will it be done to you," and their sight was restored.
4. Loyalty - The quality which enables man to remain true and devoted to his God and his friends. Its opposites are treachery, infidelity, adultery.
Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be identified with the Egyptians even though he was brought up by the Pharaoh's daughter. He was well educated and had become a man of power and position. But instead of aspiring for the throne of Egypt, he chose to endure ill-treatment with the people of God (Acts 7:20-29; Hebrews 11:23-27).
Jonathan loved David in spite of his father's hatred for David. Jonathan made and fulfilled a promise to warn David of any danger that would come out of his father's house (1 Samuel 20:1-17).
Ruth, although a Moabite, chose to go with her mother-in-law, Naomi, to Bethlehem when Naomi decided to go home to her people. Ruth said, "Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried" (Ruth 1:1-18).
Scripture informs us: “The kisses of an enemy may be profuse, but faithful are the wounds of a friend” (Proverbs 27:6). “Many a man claims to have unfailing love, but a faithful man who can find?” (Proverbs 20:6). “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24). In 2 Corinthians 8:9, Paul tells us this: “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for our sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.”
5. Humility - The quality which enables man to do what is pleasing to God, instead of what is pleasurable to him or acceptable to other men. It is what makes man able to regard others more important than himself. Pride, conceit, vainglory are opposites of humility.
Moses was said to be very humble, more than any man who was on the face of the earth. Acts 7 records that he was educated in all the learning of the Egyptians and he was a man of power in words and deeds and yet when God told him that He was sending him back to Pharaoh so that he may lead God's people out of Egyptian bondage, he said, ''I am slow of speech and tongue." Moses was convinced that he was not the right man for such a big job. He failed to see the power of God that would be his strength but he did not assume that it was because of his qualifications that had caused God to choose him (Acts 7:2-22; Exodus 3:1-15).
When Nehemiah learned of the great distress and reproach afflicting the Jewish remnant that survived the exile, he wept and mourned for days. And he fasted and prayed before God. In his prayer he humbly referred to himself as God's servant, to the sons of Israel as God's servants, and to Moses as God's servant. God heard his prayer and granted him what he asked (Nehemiah 1:1-11).
Scripture instructs us: “The fear of the Lord teaches man wisdom, and humility comes before honor” (Proverbs 15:33). “Before his downfall a man's heart is proud, but humility comes before honor” (Proverbs 18:12). “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6b). When we rebel against God and forsake His ways, God does not turn His back on us. In our rebellious condition this is what He says to us: “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and will heal their land” ( 2 Chronicles 7.14).
6. Integrity - The quality of wholeness; consistent uprightness. It is that which enables man to deal with his fellowmen in all honesty. It is the state in which man could say, "I've got nothing to hide.” His life is characterized as being transparent and beyond reproach. Deceitfulness, crookedness, deceptiveness are opposites of integrity.
With delight, God made reference to the integrity of David. Speaking to Solomon, God said, "As for you, if you walk before me in integrity of heart and uprightness, as David your father did, and do all I command and observe my decrees and laws, I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father when I said, `You shall never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel” (1 Kings 9:4-5).
Speaking to Satan regarding Job, God said, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on the earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil" (Job 1:8).
Scripture teaches us: “The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity” (Proverbs 11:3). “Better a poor man whose walk is blameless than a fool whose lips are perverse” (Proverbs 19:1).
7. Courage - The quality which enables man to confront danger or difficulty without wavering; bravery, gallantry, firmness. The highest degree of courage is seen in the uncompromising person who stands alone and refuses to submit to the pressures of humiliation, pain or rejection. Good courage stands firm on the word of God; bad courage might be blind daring or stupid boldness.
Joshua was to lead the people of Israel to the Promised Land inhabited by several mighty and warlike peoples. To occupy the land which God had given them, Joshua and his men would have to do it by force. God commissioned Joshua. When He did, He said to him, "No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them" (Joshua 1:5-6).
Scripture instructs us: “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord” (Psalm 27:14). “Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord” (Psalm 31:24). In his first letter, John tells us that those who are from God have overcome the spirit that opposes God, “Because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” Faith in God’s word and promises produces courage.
Evaluation and Discussion: In a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being no character at all and 10 being Christ-like) how would you rate yourself on the following traits? What’s holding you back and why are you in that situation?
a) Wisdom
b) Discernment
c) Faith
d) Loyalty
e) Humility
f) Integrity
g) Courage
(excerpt from Bible Perspective on Leadership by Conrad Tolosa)
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Qualities of a Good Leader