Jethro's Advice (Part 2)
In our previous lesson we read Jethro's excellent advice to Moses about choosing leaders to assist him in his work so that he would not exhaust himself or burnout or frustrate the people. But how were these leaders to be chosen? What qualities would they need to be considered good leaders? A careful look at Jethro's words in Exodus 18:21,22 reveals six qualities that Moses was to look for. While it is true that these characteristics Jethro suggested are nearly 3500 years old, it does not mean that these qualities of good leadership are outdated. They are still relevant today. These characteristics are important for spiritual leaders today, although this list is certainly not comprehensive.

1. GOOD LEADERS ARE ABLE.
Webster defines "able" as having enough power or skill to do something. Not everyone is equipped to be a leader; some lack the required abilities. However, just because one is not able to accomplish a certain task now does not mean that he will never be able to accomplish such. Capable leaders are not born--they are made! How? Through desire, prayer, and long hours of preparation (cf. Phil. 4:13).

2. GOOD LEADERS MUST FEAR GOD.
That is, a good leader must have a deep reverence and respect for God. If a leader does not highly esteem the Lord and His word, he is doomed to fail and destroy others with himself. A reverent leader will inspire others to love God and follow the Lord's will (cf. Eccl. 12:13).

3. GOOD LEADERS ARE PEOPLE OF TRUTH.
They must be dedicated to knowing the truth, teaching the truth, and standing for the truth at any cost. They will not compromise with error (cf. Prov. 23:23).

4. GOOD LEADERS HATE COVETOUSNESS.
It is not enough for a leader to avoid being covetous; he must hate it! This greedy, lustful condition is condemned throughout the Scriptures numerous times (e.g., Exo. 20:17; Eph. 5:3; Col. 3:5). Good leaders will hate covetousness and will labor to remove the sin from the hearts of those who follow them.

5. GOOD LEADERS ARE AVAILABLE TO THE ONES THEY SERVE.
It would be best if there were "rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens" among the people of Israel (Exo. 18:21). To be a leader is not to hold an "executive" position where commands are issued with no personal contact, involvement, or concern for possible needs or problems that may develop. Good leaders are accessible and they communicate well with those who follow them. They are never too busy to give personal assistance or counsel when needed. They are available and willing to help those they serve.

6. GOOD LEADERS DELEGATE AUTHORITY AND WORK.
They realize that they cannot do every thing by themselves in God's kingdom, no matter how strong or talented they may be. They gladly permit others who are qualified to share in the work, realizing that this helps in their development (not to mention the fact that more can be accomplished when work is distributed). For successful delegation, the leader should: (1) Clearly define the task to be accomplished, (2) Grant the necessary authority for the task to be completed, and (3) Trust the one to whom the task has been delegated (i.e., the leader shouldn't micromanage the delegate's every move or check up on him constantly, worrying if the job will get done).

It is implied that God approved of the idea since Moses implemented it. Moses was a good listener which helped him be a good leader. He didn't resist Jethro's wisdom or get angry at his suggestions. Moses selected many good men to assist him in leading the nation in the way of righteousness. Were these leaders perfect if they manifested these six attributes? Of course not. Moses wasn't perfect either, and neither are any leaders in the present age. Nevertheless, we should endeavor to support the good, spiritual leaders that God has blessed us with.