Everywhere you turn in the bible, it quickly becomes evident that those who lead according to God’s standards are more disposed to giving than taking. It doesn’t matter whether they are political or spiritual leaders; selfless giving is a defining attribute that godly leaders share with God.

The Example of David

True leaders demonstrate leadership not in directing people to give, but in inspiring them to.

True leaders demonstrate leadership not in directing people to give, but in inspiring them to. For example, when he was mobilizing resources for the building of the temple, David said, “And now, because of my devotion to the Temple of my God, I am giving all of my own private treasures of gold and silver to help in the construction. This is in addition to the building materials I have already collected for his holy Temple.  I am donating more than 112 tons of gold from Ophir and 262 tons of refined silver to be used for overlaying the walls of the buildings and for the other gold and silver work to be done by the craftsmen. Now then, who will follow my example and give offerings to the Lord today?” (1 Chronicles 29:3-5, NLT). David didn’t ask for donations until he had laid down his own treasures. The result of this was an outpouring of generosity across Israel, and the concluding note of that entire exercise was, “The people rejoiced over the offerings, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord, and King David was filled with joy” (1 Chronicles 29:9, NLT).

Nehemiah’s Example

Nehemiah offers us another example of exemplary leadership in selfless giving. The account reads, “For the entire twelve years that I was governor of Judah, from the twentieth year to the thirty-second year of the reign of King Artaxerxes, neither I nor my officials drew on our official food allowance. The former governors, in contrast, had laid heavy burdens on the people, demanding a daily ration of food and wine, besides forty pieces of silver. Even their assistants took advantage of the people. But because I feared God, I did not act that way. I also devoted myself to working on the wall and refused to acquire any land. And I required all my servants to spend time working on the wall.  I asked for nothing, even though I regularly fed 150 Jewish officials at my table, besides all the visitors from other lands!” (Nehemiah 5:14-17, NLT).

Paul: Preaching Without Charge

Nehemiah wasn’t in it for what he could get out of it. Neither was Paul. Paul, for instance, while succinctly upholding the principle that those who serve at the altar have God’s express and divine approval to eat from the altar, adds, “Yet I have never asked you for one penny. And I am not writing this to hint that I would like to start now. In fact, I would rather die of hunger than lose the satisfaction I get from preaching to you without charge” (1 Corinthians 9:15, TLB).

Like Paul wrote to the elders of the Church in Ephesus, true leaders believe and live out the truth that “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).

Like Paul wrote to the elders of the Church in Ephesus, true leaders believe and live out the truth that “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). Those who are in it for what they can get are grifters; whether they occupy civic, political or spiritual offices, they are of the same spirit.

So what kind of leader would you rather be? A giver or a grifter? I counsel you to follow these Christlike examples from scripture.