Mentors commit themselves to training their team. Read Matthew 17:14-21.

Jesus disciples had been with Him continuously for almost three years observing Him instruct the crowds and heal the sick. As their understanding grew Jesus had given the disciples leadership assignments. At times the disciples were very effective but at other times Jesus assessed their work and held them accountable. John Maxwell’s notes in The Maxwell Leadership Bible give some insight into mentoring when a team falls short of expectations:

Great leaders don’t usurp credit but with proper humility pass it on to the proper person or authority. Read Daniel 2:24-28 and 48-49.

It may have appeared to the average person that Daniel was in Babylon as a captive taken from Jerusalem by King Nebuchadnezzar. It is true he was there as a captive but sent by God to be His representative and a channel to speak God’s messages to the pagan King Nebuchadnezzar. One of the gifts God had given to Daniel that would help him with this task was the ability to interpret dreams. As you might guess such a gift would be suspect by those in authority because it would be easy to fabricate a logical explanation that flattered the dreamer so even though Daniel had the gift it could be difficult to stand out from the crowd.

Wise leaders use rewards as a natural part of positive reinforcement for accomplishments and they also have a system that applies appropriate consequences for failure. Read Lamentations 4:6-8.

Over the years God had blessed the nation of Israel and the city of Jerusalem. Under David and Solomon’s rule no other nation knew such business or military success. God had blessed the nation with abundance through their agricultural system and had established such a military power under David’s leadership that Solomon knew almost 40 years of peace. Even during these most prosperous days God detailed a consequence should the kings, priests and people of the nation fail to keep their covenant.

God longs to bless and reward obedient leaders. Read Jeremiah 29:1-14.

Jeremiah had warned Judah for decades to repent of their violations of the covenant they had made with God. Eventually God gave Babylon military success against Judah. Babylon invaded Judah three times. Once they simply made Jerusalem and Judah subject to their rule and forced them to pay an annual tribute, once they took several thousand captives back to Babylon including the king and his family, Daniel and others that were the brightest and best Judah had to offer, and during the third invasion they destroyed the city of Jerusalem, mercilessly massacred thousands, and took virtually all the able bodied back to Babylon in chains.

An effective leader helps their team to experience the relationship between their contribution and their compensation. Read Proverbs 3:27.

“When it is in your power to act” (v. 27), effective leaders “Do not withhold” “…good from those who deserve it.” These short statements contain three elements that every leader must understand to be effective in their leadership.