A leader's skills are important alongside character. There are many Biblical accounts of leader’s using their skills in many ways. We are going to look at how a Christian leader can be effective by using their God-given skills and gifts. When I think of a strong leader, I think of Moses in the Bible. He was born a Hebrew, and was taught by his own mother as a child. He lived in the King’s palace and was educated in Egyptian belief and practices. In Exodus 2, Moses kills the Egyptian slave-master and hid him in the sand, and fled to Midian in fear of his life. Moses spent forty years in the desert, tending sheep. It is ironic that God was preparing Moses for leading the Israelites out of Egypt, who were similar to sheep. Moses was not blessed with good speech, but God used him anyway because of his strength as a leader.

We have to understand first, that God is the ultimate leader. In 1 Samuel, the people were becoming dissatisfied in letting God be their king. The people told Samuel, “Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways, now make us a king to judge us like all the nations” (1 Samuel 8:5). When we take our eyes off of God as the leader, we can make decisions based on man’s ideals. Saul was selected as King of Israel, and was placed in that position for his physical traits, instead of his skills as a leader. The Israelites found out how wrong they were in choosing Saul when God rejected him and chose David to be king of Israel. I Samuel 16:13 says, “And the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward.”

Skill are important in leadership, but having a heart after God is the most important. Psalm 78:72 says, “And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.”