Thomas Carlyle once observed that for every hundred people who can handle adversity, only one can handle prosperity. Leadership brings three legitimate advantages: greater position, greater power, greater privilege. Each carries a corresponding temptation capable of undoing a leader entirely.
After twelve years of being governor of Judah, Nehemiah points out something striking: every governor before him had misused this same role.
Three Temptations of Leadership
1. Misusing position.
Previous governors made unreasonable demands on the people, overtaxing them without regard for their circumstances. A promotion has a way of revealing a person's character. The same person can become unrecognizable when given authority over others.
2. Abusing power.
Even the staff of previous governors "lorded it over the people." It reveals the stark contrast between a boss who doesn't value others and a leader who conveys genuine esteem. Leadership was never meant to be lordship, but rather service to others.
3. Profiting from privilege.
Governors before him had claimed a generous food allowance and other perks that came with the office. Nehemiah refused all of it—no salary, no expense account, no land acquisitions, even while personally feeding over 150 people daily at his own expense. So, what kept an ordinary man, accountable to no one closer than a king 800 miles away, from exploiting a position that virtually guaranteed enrichment?
Three Disciplines That Preserved His Integrity
1. He deepened his reverence for God.
Nehemiah understood two things clearly: God had placed him there, and God would hold him accountable for it. Leaders who forget that they're stewards, not owners, of what they've been given are the ones most likely to misuse it.
2. He developed genuine love for people.
Nehemiah's anger at the exploitation of his people wasn't for mere show; it came from real compassion for those being harmed. The distinction is simple: those who abuse leadership are focused on what they can extract for themselves while those who lead with genuine care are focused on what they can contribute.
3. He disciplined himself for a longer-term reward.
Nehemiah could have used the ongoing famine to acquire land at rock-bottom prices, a move that would have paid off enormously once the wall made the city desirable again. But he didn't. "Remember me with favor, O my God, for all I have done for these people," he writes. His eyes were fixed on something beyond immediate gain. Selfish leaders focus on their rights; good leaders focus on their responsibilities.
Costco founder Jim Sinegal offers a modern echo of this same restraint. For years, he capped his own salary at a fraction of what comparable CEOs earned and refused to raise prices on the company's iconic $1.50 hot dog, even when board members pushed for it during lean years. When a successor once suggested raising the price, Sinegal reportedly told him, "If you raise the price of the hot dog, I will kill you." He understood his role as stewardship of something bigger than his own compensation, and that restraint at the top set the tone for the entire company's culture.
The Pattern Across Scripture
Scripture is equally direct about the cost of being too casual with our authority. Moses struck the rock instead of speaking to it, and forfeited entry into the promised land. David's abuse of power cost him his son. Saul's disobedience cost him the throne. The historical pattern is remarkably consistent: using authority without accountability lends itself toward corruption.
Integrity Matters
Every leader eventually faces these same three temptations—to misuse position, abuse power, and profit from privilege. What separates leaders who live with integrity isn't the absence of opportunity to exploit their role. It's reverence for Who placed them there, genuine care for those they lead, and eyes fixed on something beyond the immediate gain. How do YOU measure up?