In 605 BC, Daniel was taken captive to Babylon as a prisoner of war. Yet he was selected by King Nebuchadnezzar and rose to a position second only to the king himself, helping to govern the empire in a foreign land. From Daniel’s life, I see three outstanding qualities of leadership.
First, self-discipline.
Human beings possess many desires, and through training and maturity, some level of self-control is possible. However, no one can fully suppress the most instinctive human desires—the desire for food, sleep, and sex. Among these three, the strongest is the appetite for food.
Food may seem merely food, devoid of religious or ideological meaning. Yet when one lets down one’s guard and indulges in the royal delicacies provided by the king, something subtle happens. Gradually, the king’s tastes become one’s own, the king’s values replace one’s values, and before one realizes it, pleasing the king takes precedence over hunger and thirst for God.
The primal human craving, expressed as “appetite,” is not limited to food. The desire for wealth, honor, success, and power functions in the same way. There is a saying, “Power comes from proximity to the one who holds ultimate authority.” If Daniel had eaten the king’s food three times a day, it would have been the fastest route to power. Yet he refused. For Daniel and his friends, the highest values were not promotion, prestige, success, or authority, but God and God’s will.
When young John Wesley once asked, “What is sin?” his mother, Susanna Wesley, replied, “My son, whatever weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, or diminishes your thirst for spiritual things—no matter how innocent or admirable it may appear—that thing is sin to you.” The most difficult person for a leader to lead is himself. A person who cannot discipline himself can never become a great leader.
Second, continual growth through self-development.
Daniel and his friends were already outstanding members of Judah’s nobility, which is why they were selected for Babylonian leadership training (Dan. 1:4). The results of three years of training were remarkable. They became ten times wiser than all the magicians and enchanters of Babylon (v. 20).
The primary role of these magicians and enchanters was to discern and predict the future. The ability to perceive what lies ahead is an essential leadership quality for a national leader. When Daniel interpreted King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream—something the Babylonian wise men could not do—the king appointed him as chief administrator. People can see the truth only to the extent that they have trained their eyes to see it. The ability to perceive a nation’s future is formed only through relentless study and continual personal growth.
Third, spirituality.
Enduring, history-making achievements are never possible apart from the grace of God. Scripture testifies, “God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief official” (v. 9), and “God gave these four young men knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning” (v. 17). That God granted such grace indicates that Daniel possessed a persistent, God-seeking spirituality.
Spirituality is often expressed through noble character. Character is more important than intellect. We often assume that followers first embrace a leader’s vision and then follow the leader. That is a misconception. What followers accept first is not the vision but the leader’s character. If followers do not respect the leader, they will neither embrace his vision nor submit to his leadership.
To date, South Korea has had approximately sixty prime ministers, including acting and interim prime ministers. Their average term of service has been about fifteen months. In contrast, amid the intrigues and schemes of ancient royal courts, Daniel remained in the position of chief minister for sixty-five years, even as five kings came and went. Such longevity would have been impossible without unparalleled integrity and exceptional competence. In fact, even the officials who envied Daniel could find no grounds for accusation against him. His life was that transparent.
The rise and fall of all endeavors ultimately depend on leadership. The qualities required of a national leader, a corporate CEO, or a father and mother leading a family are fundamentally the same. Pastors are no exception. Without self-discipline, continual self-development, and noble character formed by God’s grace and spirituality, there can be no truly excellent leadership.