The Makings of a Godly Leader
By Wong Kim Tok, Dr. Neo Boon Siong & Thomas Chua
"A great leader in a Biblical context would be a servant of God who responds to God’s call and accomplishes what God had called him to do. The result is groundbreaking progress, advancements or breakthroughs for the Kingdom of God — for the growth or well-being of the people of God or the growth and expansion of the gospel. With God’s help, he might have to overcome many challenges and obstacles which might overwhelm the average leader. This requires him to be sensitive to God’s leading and direction and at the same time provide vision and direction to those whom he is called to lead. A typical example would be Moses. But greatness is relative to the calling—the God-given capacities and the size of the leader’s God-given task. A campus ministry leader could be a great leader as much as one called to lead a ministry involving continents.
Wong Kim Tok , Former National Director, 1990-1998
Greatness is not necessarily seen in tasks accomplished. It could also be seen in the non-tangible but powerful impact of a leader’s spirituality, faith, character, passion for God etc. About 1000 years after King David died, King David was singled out by God as “a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do” (Acts 13:22). The kingdom he established was whittled down over time but he was remembered for generations, even till today.”
– Wong Kim Tok.
Steward Leadership
“The concept of steward leadership started from our first mission given by God in Genesis 1. God’s first instruction to Man was to 'Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.' –Genesis 1:28. When God put Adam in the garden, his mission was to work on it and keep it. Steward leadership refers to a specific role of God’s servants. In essence, a steward leader is a servant of God who has been assigned with certain tasks and entrusted with resources.
Throughout the Old Testament, there were many examples of the role of steward leaders. For example, Joseph was elevated by Pharaoh to rule and make decisions as second in command alongside him (Genesis 41). Joseph’s task was to warn Pharaoh of the upcoming seven years of famine so that they could prepare and collect grain in the seven years of abundance. Joseph clearly demonstrated that it was God who appointed him to save the nation of Israel. Other examples included Solomon, whom God was pleased with when he asked God for a wise and discerning heart to govern his people, and God blessed him for that.
Dr. Neo Boon Siong, Board of Governance — Chairman
Jesus illustrated the role of stewardship in a couple of parables. In the parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30), three servants were entrusted with the master’s property —5, 2 and 1 talents according to their ability. Stewards are appointed by God, as the master, for three primary purposes: to achieve His mission (make known his mysteries to the world); administer His household (give them their portion of food at the proper time); and to account for His property (invest wisely His entrusted resources —possessions, talents). Stewards are accountable for being faithful and the reward for doing a great job is greater responsibilities.
The role of a steward leader in an organisation is to Energize —provide strategic direction for the organisation so that there is a greater sense of mission and vision; Empower —to appoint, equip, encourage and evaluate ministry leaders so as to strengthen the ministry; and Enable —to manage and account for resources across the organisation in order to sustain it for a period of time.”
– Dr. Neo Boon Siong
God’s Choice, Not Ours
“God appoints leaders for a time and a season. In the Old Testament, we saw how Joshua took over Moses to lead Israel. The Lord said to Moses, “You shall not cross the Jordan.” (Deuteronomy 31:2). Hence Moses summoned Joshua to go with the Israelites into the promised land. At 120 years old, Moses’ 'eye was undimmed and his vigor unabated' (Deut 34:7). There was no reason for Moses to stop leading. It was probably not the best time for Moses to leave, but it was God’s time —God’s time for the beginning of a Joshua leadership. This tells us that it is the Lord who appoints the new leader and it is the same God who determines the time and season of a leader. No one is indispensable for the work and ministry of God. It also tells us that the Lord must be our focus in a leadership transition. It’s all about God —His kingdom, His business, His leading, His direction and His will. It should never be about our own preference or what we want.
Thomas Chua , Former National Director, 2001-2009
As God appoints, we as His servants are His instruments and vessels. 2 Timothy 2:21 says, 'Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself… he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.' (ESV). Like servants to the master, servants of God should be focused on increasing Jesus and decreasing themselves (John 3:30). We are not called to receive glory for ourselves, not for honour or fame but to increase Jesus ('I do not receive glory from people. I receive not glory from men. I crave no human honour, I look for no mortal fame.'– John 5:41).
God calls for His people to exercise faith in a leadership change. As the appointed leader, God calls the leader to be strong and courageous, and not fear ('Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.'– Deut 31:6). As I recount the time when I was appointed as National Director for the Singapore Navigators, one of the passages that challenged me to press on in faith was Hebrews 10:38 —'but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him' (ESV). As a young staff at that time, this was the verse that motivated and kept me excited about my faith.
Meanwhile, people are called to trust God in a leadership change by submitting to the appointed leader. In the Old Testament, we saw how the Israelites submitted to Joshua, their new leader ('All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you…' – Joshua 1:16-17). They trusted God with the change in leadership and were ready to submit to their new leader.
In the past, when we (the leadership team) had issues with submission, Dave Dawson often referred us to a verse in 2 Corinthians 8:5 ('And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.'). Oftentimes as people submit themselves to the Lord, the Lord leads them to submit to the leader. As the Lord leads us in the coming days in appointing His new leader, we need to submit to the Lord and to the new leader.
My encouragement to us all is Daniel 11:32b: '…but the people that know their God shall be strong, and do exploits' (ASV). As servants of God, let us not shrink back but to step out in faith and do exploits for God and for His kingdom. Amen!”
– Thomas Chua