A Good Leader and Encourager

Nehemiah 2:17-20 KJV

17 Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach. 18 Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work. 19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king? 20 Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.

Here we see the attributes of a good leader and encourager.

First, Nehemiah puts himself right in the people's shoes. He says "we" and talks about the whole nation. He doesn't say that he is better than them.

Then, he goes on to tell them that not only do they have God's favor, but also the king's favor. He joins them in the task of rebuilding. He gets his hands dirty right alongside them.

Finally, he again stands on God's promises! He knows God is for this project as evidenced by what has already occurred so he is not afraid of what the naysayers are saying.

Do we ever get discouraged when people of the world tell us we are being foolish? We need to stand on God's promises. He is faithful to uphold us!