Last time, we set out to answer a question: “What exactly is a godly leader?” We saw that in Scripture, leadership is stewardship, and authority exists to serve, not to control.
So what does godly leadership look like in today’s business world?
There are seven characteristics, rooted in Scripture and lived out by biblical leaders. Today, we’ll look at the first three.
1. Integrity and Truth-Telling
“The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy” (Proverbs 12:22).
Integrity means you are the same person in private and in public. No double standards. No hidden behavior that contradicts your stated values. No protecting your image at the expense of truth.
Consider Daniel. His enemies tried to find corruption or negligence in his work and could not (Daniel 6:4–5). Later, when delivering a message that could cost him his life, he told the king the hard truth without softening it (Daniel 5). His integrity made him unassailable.
Contrast that with David in 2 Samuel 11. One private compromise led to deception, abuse of power, and murder. The damage spread far beyond him.
So be honest even when it is hard. Admit mistakes instead of hiding them. Keep your commitments and honor your agreements.
In a culture of spin and careful messaging, radical truthfulness stands out. A godly leader would rather lose a deal than win it through dishonesty.
2. Humility and Teachability
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.” (Philippians 2:3-4)
Humility is not thinking less of yourself. It is seeing yourself clearly: what you are good at, where you need help, and being willing to learn.
Look at Moses. Scripture calls him the most humble man on earth (Numbers 12:3). When his father-in-law, outside his faith and nation, advised him to delegate, Moses implemented it immediately (Exodus 18).
Later, when his own siblings challenged him, he did not defend himself. He let God handle it (Numbers 12).
Humble leaders do not act like they know it all. They ask questions. They listen to people at every level, including junior staff, customers, critics, and even competitors. They accept feedback without getting defensive. When they are wrong, they admit it and adjust.
3. Justice and Dignity for All People
“This is what the Lord says: Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand of the oppressor” (Jeremiah 22:3).
Nehemiah shows what this looks like in practice. While rebuilding Jerusalem’s wall, he discovered wealthy Jews exploiting poor Jews (Nehemiah 5:1–13). Confronting them could cost him the support he needed. He did it anyway.
In business, this means you respect everyone regardless of role or title and refuse to treat people as tools for results. You pay fair wages. You do not burn people out to hit targets. You do not reduce people to performance metrics. You do not sacrifice people for short-term gains to make numbers look better. You ask not only, “Is this legal?” but “Is this right?”
Ultimately, a godly leader asks, “How can I create conditions where people can flourish?”, not “How much can I extract?”
Next time, we’ll explore the remaining characteristics.