Making a Differencewith Pastor Phil Erickson

Jun 6th, 2010 The Qualifications Are Simple

Today’s Passage – Nehemiah 7 – 9  

When Nehemiah was looking for a man to be the mayor of Jerusalem.  He looked for a man with three qualifications:  

1  He chose a man that was a follower.  

Now the man that he chose happened to be his brother.  I am not advocating nepotism here; but the fact of the matter is that the people that we entrust with positions of leadership should be familiar to us.  We need to know their qualities; and we need to know their flaws.  They ought to be people that we have had a working relationship with in the past.  People that have proven themselves over the years.   A good leader will have already been a good follower.

2  He chose a man that was faithful.  

God has told us that a faithful man is hard to find.  By the way, we ought to select people based on the faithfulness of their past; not on the promised faithfulness of their future.    

 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.           (Luke 16:10)

 3  He chose a man that feared God.

If you are looking for a wise leader, look for someone who fears the Lord.  The Bible is clear that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of both knowledge and wisdom.  People who do not fear the Lord cannot even begin to have wisdom.