Generous Leadership
Words of Faith 7-2-26
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2026
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Nehemiah 5
[17] Furthermore, a hundred and fifty Jews and officials ate at my table, as well as those who came to us from the surrounding nations. [18] Each day, one ox, six choice sheep, and some poultry were prepared for me, and every ten days, an abundant supply of wine of all kinds. In spite of all this, I never demanded the food allotted to the governor, because the demands were heavy on these people. [19] Remember me with favor, O my God, for all I have done for these people.

Nehemiah might be listed as the most personally sacrificial governor in the history of Judah, but he cannot be listed as being inhospitable. In fact, Nehemiah displayed an example of an open and generous table that exhibited the power of hospitality.

We should understand that there was an expectation in the ancient world that governors and rulers would lavishly entertain dignitaries and officials. This was part of the social responsibility of the age. As an example, when Solomon became king, he sacrificed 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep and held a great seven-day feast for the assembly (1 Kings 4:23; 8:62-65). An ancient text discovered at Nimrud records the feasting of 69,574 people for ten days on this occasion. And you think you had to entertain a lot of people to watch the Super Bowl!

The point here is that Nehemiah extended generous hospitality to both Jewish officials and people from the land. He invited the wealthy and well-placed to his table as well as the poor. The meat listed here would be sufficient to provide one meal for 600 to 800 persons, including the 150 Jews and officials mentioned.

Of course, one of the “fringe benefits” of being governor in Judah was a food allowance, granted him by the Persian officials for the official entertaining of guests. But Nehemiah did not take advantage of what was rightfully his. In providing food for many Jews and entertaining dignitaries from other nations, he served food and wine from his personal resources. And as far as we know, the people were not even aware of this! This was not some grandiose gesture to pick up the bill at the restaurant.

Nehemiah used the ancient equivalent of a “state dinner” to extend hospitality generously to both powerful and common people. As a leader, Nehemiah used his table to bring people together, without demanding his allotment from the tax revenue. In the modern world, this would be like the President holding a lavish state dinner to honor state officials and dignitaries but also including people from across the nation who had no pull or clout whatsoever… and then picking up the bill personally.

What we want to see here is leadership that is generous and displays a genuine commitment to the people. Leaders who are in it for what they can get are not really leaders. Leaders who serve for the sake of what they can give foster an amazing sense of rapport and stability among those they serve.

The truth is you don’t have to put on a state dinner in order to be hospitable, and you don’t have to treat 800 guests in order to be generous. It really comes down to a few qualities. Are you able to use your home and table to bring people together? Is God calling you to do that? Are there ways and places that you can create hospitality that will build goodwill between people? Are there ways you can extend generosity in ways that will serve a wide variety of people?

Father God, help me to be a godly leader. Show me the ways that I can open my home and my life so that people can come together and know You. Teach me the ways that I can extend the generosity that You have shown me and bless others. Show me how to lead through sacrifice and generous hospitality. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2025
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2025 Jeffrey D. Hoy.