Effective leaders practice restraint when using their power and influence. Read Matthew 26:57-68.

The religious leaders of Jesus’ day had finally had enough of His public statements pointing out their outright disobedience to the spirit of God’s laws for governing the people. Jesus was arrested and brought before the religious Supreme Court called the Sanhedrin. Even though Jesus had the power to call down legions of angels as His character witnesses or for His protection He endured the false accusations and attacks because He knew His Father was in control of the situation (1 Peter 2:23). Jesus restrained the use of His power, trusting God to bring justice as it fit into His perfect plan.

Wise leaders keep a position of humility as they steward God’s resources that have been entrusted to them. Read Hosea 14:1-9.

The leaders of Israel lacked humility because they had forgotten the true source of their prosperity. God assigns leaders to be in charge but wise leaders remember that God remains in control. Hosea’s recommendation for the people of Israel was that they “return to the Lord. Say to him: ‘Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips. Assyria cannot save us; we will not mount war-horses. We will never again say ‘Our gods’ to what our own hands have made, for in You the fatherless find compassion.’” The people of Israel needed to admit that the One True God was the source of their prosperity and protection not the Assyrian army or the hand-crafted gods. Hosea wanted the people to know they were stewards of their prosperity not the creator of it.

Wise leaders willingly develop accountability systems that keep the trust of their team. Read Hosea 10:3-4.

God, through Hosea, declared that the prosperity in Israel had created a situation in Israel in which their leaders became self reliant and ignored the value system He established. The leaders felt they were accountable to no one and they drifted into serious separation from God and the people. As Israel’s leadership became ever more self reliant they made false promises that had lawsuits springing up “like poisonous weeds in a plowed field.” The falsehood of the leaders so totally eroded the people’s confidence in the leadership that they concluded “We have no king…”

Without accountability to God’s established standards it is easy for leaders to abuse their power and influence. Read Daniel 2:1-13.

Nebuchadnezzar was king of ancient Babylon and is often mentioned in the book of Daniel. He followed his father Nabopolassar to the throne after Nabopolassar made Babylon the dominate power of its day by defeating the Assyrians. Nebuchadnezzar’s first notable military victory was over Pharaoh Necho II of Egypt at the Battle of Carchemish in 605 BC. Judah had allied itself with Egypt for this battle and thus became an enemy of Babylon and, in 605, Nebuchadnezzar captured Jerusalem. He took back to Babylon as captives several thousand of their brightest and best including Daniel and King Jehoiakim.

Every leader, no matter their understanding or belief in God, will ultimately be accountable to Him. Read Ezekiel 21:1-23.

God had Ezekiel prophesy that He would bring a destroying force against Judah. His intention was to use Babylon, a pagan nation, to fulfill His judgment against Judah by having Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, attack Jerusalem, the capitol city of Judah. The great Babylonian king was God’s instrument and he didn’t even know it. Even leaders who fail to acknowledge God’s existence are ultimately accountable to Him.