In the annals of history, the essence of true leadership is often revealed by the sacrificial acts of individuals who rise above personal gain for the greater good. One such figure is Nehemiah, the resolute governor tasked with the extraordinary mission of rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls during the post-exilic era.
While the courageous act of building the walls of Jerusalem overshadows other achievements of Nehemiah, it is his sacrificial acts, made for the welfare of his people as recorded in Nehemiah 5:14–16, that shine vividly and reveal Nehemiah’s true character.
Moreover, from the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, until his thirty-second year—twelve years—neither I nor my brothers ate the food allotted to the governor. But the earlier governors—those preceding me—placed a heavy burden on the people and took forty shekels of silver from them in addition to food and wine. Their assistants also lorded it over the people. But out of reverence for God I did not act like that. Instead, I devoted myself to the work on this wall. All my men were assembled there for the work; we did not acquire any land. (NIV)
This article will more closely examine these verses in Nehemiah 5. To do this, a brief historical background to this text will be examined to give weight to Nehemiah’s act of self-sacrifice. The purpose, role, and importance of policies in an organization will be explored to highlight Nehemiah’s courage to break policy for the higher good of others. A general survey will be made of historical figures who have left a legacy in human history because of their sacrificial acts for the good of others. And finally, an application and conclusion will be made of how Christian leaders may emulate Nehemiah’s behavior for the higher good.
Historical Context
Nehemiah became the governor of Judah/Yehud in 445 B.C. (Willette, 2023). Nehemiah 5:14–16 unfolds within the historical context of post-exilic Jerusalem, a city grappling with the aftermath of the Babylonian destruction of the city and the captivity of its people—and now facing the demanding task of replacing the burnt temple, rebuilding the broken walls of the city, and restoring its societal structure.
Under the decree of King Cyrus the Persian, the exiles were allowed to return to Jerusalem. Nehemiah, a cupbearer to King Artaxerxes, emerged as a central figure during this time. Driven by a strong sense of divine calling, Nehemiah set out to rebuild the broken walls of Jerusalem. The people he recruited to do this task—those he finds in Jerusalem—are of meager means, many of them living below acceptable standards. The Bible sheds light on the general and economic/financial burdens of those helping Nehemiah:
Now the men and their wives raised a great outcry against their fellow Jews. Some were saying, “We and our sons and daughters are numerous; in order for us to eat and stay alive, we must get grain.” Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards and our homes to get grain during the famine.” Still others were saying, “We have had to borrow money to pay the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards. Although we are of the same flesh and blood as our fellow Jews and though our children are as good as theirs, yet we have to subject our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but we are powerless, because our fields and our vineyards belong to others.” (Neh. 5:1–5, NIV)
Commenting on this situation, one Bible Commentary puts it this way:
The poor made loud complaints against the rich for taking advantage of their necessities and grinding them by usurious exactions. Many of them had, in consequence of these oppressions, been driven to such extremities that they had to mortgage their lands and houses to enable them to pay the taxes to the Persian government, and ultimately even to sell their children for slaves to procure the means of subsistence. The condition of the poorer inhabitants was indeed deplorable. (Jamieson, Fausset, & Brown, 2000)
Nehemiah, the governor, and those providing leadership with him operated under the Persian policies that provided privileges for the office of the governor. It was perfectly reasonable that those who did public service should be maintained at the public charge. Poole’s (1990) commentary on Nehemiah 5:14 defines “the bread of the governor” as “that allowance which by the laws of God and nations, and of the king of Persia, the governors might require for the maintenance of their own dignity and office, and of the public service” (p. 891). Previous governors had exercised this privilege and right—even if it reduced people to servitude and poverty. Doing so was part of the national laws, designed to maintain the dignity of the office of the governors.
It was against this background that Nehemiah made a conscious choice not to implement these national laws for the higher good of his people. Nehemiah’s act of sacrifice for the higher good of the people has not gone unnoticed in many Bible commentaries.
Benson notes that Nehemiah and his officers did not take the allowance which, by the laws of God and nations and of the king of Persia, the governors might require. But Nehemiah would not accept that maintenance because he saw it would be burdensome to his countrymen; he either lived upon his own estates, which he had in Judah, or upon the riches he had acquired in Babylon when he was the king’s cupbearer (Benson, 1857). Nehemiah declined to accept the lawful emoluments attached to his government on conscientious grounds. Keil and Delitzsch (1983) credit Nehemiah with unselfishness for his behavior during the time that he occupied the office of governor and note the personal sacrifices he made for the good of his countrymen.
Policies and Purpose
A deeper appreciation of Nehemiah’s decision to set aside policy will be better understood if one regards the general role and purposes of laws, policies, and guidelines in organizations.
Every organization needs to establish a clear set of policies to help guide operations. Policies communicate an organization’s culture, values, and philosophy. Policies cover what employees can expect from an organization, such as employee benefits. They also map out what the company expects from employees, such as a code of conduct (Kelly, 2020).
In the context of Nehemiah, the allowances that Nehemiah refused to collect and use for himself and his team were required by the national laws of the king of Persia to help maintain the office of the governor at the public charge. But Nehemiah would not accept that maintenance because he saw that it would be burdensome to his countrymen.
Examples of Sacrificial Leaders
The world has produced some leaders who stand as beacons of light when it comes to personal sacrifice for the sake of others. While these may not have been financial decisions, they are decisions made for purposes of giving up personal comfort for the greater good of many. Such leaders include, but are not limited to, Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teresa, and Martin Luther King, Jr.—just to name a few.
Mandela, the anti-apartheid revolutionary and former president of South Africa, spent 27 years in prison for his activism. He could have chosen to live his life just like any other South African Black person, yet he chose not to. He made to a lifelong commitment of sacrifice to freedom. His choice of fighting to dismantle apartheid by sacrificing his personal freedom and life of ease resulted in the freedom of many in South Africa. Mandela’s willingness to endure personal suffering for the sake of his people’s freedom makes him a prime example of a sacrificial leader.
Gandhi is another such leader. The leader of the Indian independence movement, Gandhi was known for his philosophy of nonviolent resistance. He endured multiple imprisonments and went on hunger strikes to protest injustice and inequality. Gandhi’s personal sacrifices, including a simple lifestyle and periods of fasting, inspired millions and played a crucial role in gaining India’s independence.
Mother Teresa, a Catholic nun, dedicated her life to serving the poor and sick in Calcutta, India. She lived a life of extreme simplicity, often going without simple comforts to provide for those in need. Mother Teresa’s sacrificial leadership was evident in her hands-on approach to helping the destitute and her unwavering commitment to humanitarian work.
Martin Luther King, Jr., a key figure in the American civil rights movement, faced numerous threats and acts of violence throughout his leadership. He spent time in jail and ultimately gave his life for the cause of racial equality. King’s commitment to nonviolent activism and his sacrifice for the advancement of civil rights left a lasting impact on American society.
Like Nehemiah of the Bible, these leaders exhibited sacrificial qualities by putting the needs and wellbeing of others before their own. Their actions resonate as powerful examples of leadership driven by a profound sense of purpose and a willingness to endure personal hardships for the greater good.
Application
Christian leaders are called to lead people in accomplishing the mission of the Lord. Oftentimes, such calls are in the context of established systems or organizations. In order to operate smoothly and efficiently, these organizations create or make policies that govern the operations of the organizations. Among such policies are financial policies that also outline remunerations and allowances that reward or pay for the leaders and cover the leader’s allowances while they carry out their leadership roles.
Policies are designed to address normal situations. In most cases, those situations assume the availability and reliability of the flow of revenue. Under such normal circumstances, the application of policy serves the organization and the people very well. However, there may come times when—due to different circumstances that may bring financial challenges—less revenue is brought in for the organization. During such circumstances, the application of even good policies, especially those policies that are of a personal nature, may produce the opposite of the intended effects. In such circumstances, Nehemiah’s sacrificial act of suspending the implementation of even a good policy serves as an example of sacrificial leadership; such acts could be the best course of action even for the betterment of the organization.
Conclusion
In the records of leadership, Nehemiah’s sacrificial act, as depicted in Nehemiah 5:14–16, stands in the forefront of the pages of history, leaving an indelible imprint on the essence of selfless governance. His refusal of the governor’s food allowance and his commitment to alleviating the economic burdens on the people underscore a leadership paradigm built on humility, integrity, and a profound sense of responsibility. As we glean insights from Nehemiah’s sacrificial example, let it be a clear call to leaders across the ages—especially to Christian leaders whose Master, Christ Jesus, sacrificed so much for humanity’s well-being.
The world needs men and women who have a conscience beyond that of duty to the higher ethics of God’s calling. In a world often entangled in the pursuit of personal gain, Christian leaders should stand as a shining model who, out of reverence for a higher calling, place the welfare of the parishioners they lead above their own comforts.
May the legacy left by Nehemiah serve as a compelling appeal to leaders of today, urging them to embrace sacrificial leadership that transforms not only organizations but the very fabric of the communities they serve. In the spirit of Nehemiah, let leaders be architects of positive change, weaving a legacy defined by compassion, ethical governance, and a resolute commitment to the well-being of those entrusted to their care.
Pardon Kandanga Mwansa, PhD, DMin, currently serves as an associate professor of educational leadership in the Andrews University School of Leadership in Berrien Springs, Michigan. As an ordained minister of the Gospel in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, he has served as a pastor, departmental director, president of a union and two divisions, and from 2005–2015 as a general vice president at the General Conference. From 2015 to 2022, he served as president (vice chancellor) of Rusangu Adventist University in Zambia, Africa. His passion is in leadership development, specializing in school principals, in which field he has done significant research. Mwansa has published several articles and has made presentations at different conferences on all the continents of the world.
References
Benson, J. (1857). Commentary of the Old and New Testaments. T. Carlton & J. Porter. https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/rbc/nehemiah-5.html
Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (2000). Commentary on Nehemiah 5 by Jamieson, Fausset & Brown. Blue Letter Bible. https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/jfb/Neh/Neh_005.cfm
Keil, C. F., & Delitzsch, F. (1983). Commentary on the Old Testament in Ten Volumes. Eerdmans. https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/kdo/nehemiah-5.html
Kelly, M. (2020). What is the purpose of policies in the workplace? Gan Integrity. https://www.ganintegrity.com/blog/purpose-of-policies/#:~:text=The%20purpose%20of%20policies%20and%20procedures%20is%20to%20bring%20uniformity,in%20our%20language%20and%20examples
Poole, M. (1962). A Commentary on the Holy Bible. Banner of Truth Trust.
Willette, D. (2023). Nehemiah–The man behind the wall. Biblical Archeology Society. https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/people-cultures-in-the-bible/people-in-the-bible/nehemiah-the-man-behind-the-wall/