“Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens” (Exodus 18:21).
TEXT — Exodus 18:13-26
Message
The knowledge of what constitutes the right qualities for sound leadership is still elusive to some human resource managers and experts. As a result, institutions parade men and women who merely have communication skills, administrative competencies, business management, etc. but who lack vital moral virtues.
Today’s text has a more comprehensive mix of leadership qualities that produces more desirable results. This came from the counsel Jethro (Moses’ father-in-law) gave to him considering how he wearied himself performing a sole adjudicating role for about three million Israelites. Jethro recommended as leaders, “able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness”. Such were to be set as rulers over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens in a hierarchical leadership structure.
This leadership model has since been adopted by management professionals and theorists. Indeed, the popular 14 principles of scientific management developed by Henry Fayol derive a lot from this biblical model. However, it is not enough to have knowledge and skills. The fear of God makes a huge difference because it enables the leader to overcome myriads of associated temptations and wrong tendencies. Many people who find themselves in leadership positions without necessary moral qualities do much damage and easily fall from grace to grass.
Therefore, it is absolutely necessary, particularly in the church, to pray and exercise utmost carefulness when appointing leaders. Those aspiring for leadership roles and positions must also reflect on the aforesaid scriptural criteria. Those who dabble into such offices without the requisite qualifications make a shipwreck of the ministry and injure themselves.
Thought for the day
A leader’s altitude is determined by both his aptitude and rectitude.
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
