The year 2024 marks a historic time in global politics, with nearly half of the world’s population participating in national elections across more than 70 countries. From Asia to Europe to the Americas, citizens have turned out in droves, hoping for change, stability or progress.

Elections kicked off in Asia as Taiwan’s January balloting saw citizens voting amid escalating tensions with China. Shortly after, Bangladesh re-elected its government despite political violence and an election boycott. In February, Indonesia and Pakistan also held significant votes, allowing citizens to express their views in complex political environments.

As winter turned to spring, attention shifted to Europe. Russia’s March election extended the incumbent’s rule for another six years, raising eyebrows about how much citizens were involved in the democratic process. Meanwhile, Ukraine was forced to postpone its elections until 2025 due to its ongoing war, putting the people’s voices on hold.

Summer brought progressive policies for voters in the European Union and a major shift in the United Kingdom as the opposition party came to power. Venezuela’s controversial presidential election sparked global protests.

Now, all attention is on the United States. The presidential and congressional elections scheduled for November 5 could not only reshape the nation but also significantly impact the rest of the world. America’s highly polarized political environment has raised concerns among voters about the future of U.S. democracy and its global influence.

During these various elections, citizens expressed their leadership choices against a backdrop of intense global issues, worries about election fairness and the potential for political unrest. Economic uncertainty, security concerns and questions about democratic integrity were on voters’ minds worldwide.

As with previous elections, optimism runs high, but disappointment usually follows. People feel let down by those in power, with even the most promising leaders coming up short.

Voters say they value character in those who lead them. They may look for virtues like integrity, competence, vision, empathy and accountability in their leaders.

Interestingly, these virtues align closely with what the Bible says God wants from leaders.

Regular readers of The Real Truth understand that the politics and governmental systems of this world are not biblical. Our booklets Should Christians Vote? and A World in Captivity explain this in detail. Yet the Bible shows that God does use people in leadership roles to fulfill His purpose. He led ancient Israel in the Old Testament through Moses and other leaders under him (Ex. 18:12-27). He leads Christians today through the ministry (Eph. 4:11-12). He is preparing people to reign with Jesus Christ in the soon-coming Kingdom of God (Rev. 2:26-27). God has certain qualities He looks for in leaders.

For instance, Scripture emphasizes qualities such as humility, wisdom and servanthood. Philippians 2:3 says, “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” Micah 6:8 adds, “He has showed you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?”

These verses show a desire to prioritize the common good over personal gain.

So, if God and voters in nations around the world are looking for the same thing in leaders, why do they so often fall short? What holds them back?

Ideal Qualities

Good leadership, in its truest form, transcends time and culture. The qualities that define great leaders have remained consistent throughout history, from ancient rulers to modern-day politicians and business executives. Both God and the masses recognize the importance and effectiveness of certain leadership traits.

Integrity, for instance, stands as a cornerstone of trustworthy leadership. This attribute is about aligning proper actions with proper values, even when the path is difficult.

President Abraham Lincoln is often called “Honest Abe” for his unwavering commitment to truth and moral principles. While not perfect, Lincoln’s integrity guided his decisions and earned him respect from both allies and adversaries, even in the face of a divided nation during the Civil War.

King David was described as “a man after [God’s] own heart” in I Samuel 13:14. David’s integrity was evident in his refusal to harm his predecessor, King Saul, a man who was seeking to kill David, even when given the opportunity (24:1-7).

Competence and vision are two more necessary leadership characteristics. A leader must have the skills to address complex challenges and the vision to guide followers toward a better future.

Franklin D. Roosevelt, often lauded for his achievements, demonstrated these qualities during the Great Depression and World War II. His New Deal programs and decisive leadership during wartime showcased his competence in crisis management and his vision for a stronger, more resilient America.

In Genesis 41, the patriarch Joseph showed competence in managing Egypt’s resources and vision in preparing for a coming famine (vs. 33-41). His foresight and administrative skills saved Egypt and surrounding nations from starvation.

Charisma and experience, while often underestimated, can also significantly improve leadership effectiveness. A leader’s ability to inspire and unite people, coupled with hard-earned wisdom, can be transformative. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill exhibited these qualities during World War II. He guided Britain through one of its darkest periods, leaning on his remarkable experience in managing the war effort and demonstrating extraordinary charisma in inspiring his people to victory against Nazi Germany.

Moses, despite initial reluctance, became a charismatic leader who guided the Israelites through the wilderness. His experiences, from his upbringing in Pharaoh’s court to his years as a shepherd, prepared him for the monumental task of leading an entire nation (Ex. 3:1-10).

Empathy and accountability are yet another set of vital qualities for outstanding leadership. An empathetic leader understands and addresses the needs of their followers, fostering trust and loyalty. At the same time, accountability helps ensure transparency and ethical governance.

Nelson Mandela’s leadership in post-apartheid South Africa displayed both these qualities. His empathy for all South Africans, including those who had oppressed him, and his commitment to accountability helped heal a deeply divided nation.

We see similar qualities in ancient King Josiah, who led with heart and accountability. He showed empathy for his people by tearing his robes upon hearing the words of the Law, recognizing how far his nation had strayed. He then held himself and the nation accountable, leading a significant religious reform (II Kgs. 22:11-20; 23:1-25).

Leaders today who possess these and other related qualities, whether acquired through formal training, experience or both, have the ability to succeed. Yet there are still impediments…

Leadership Failures

If good leadership is so straightforward, why do our leaders so often fail to meet expectations?

Falling short is not unique to our time. In the Bible, we see examples of leaders who strove for greatness but also made great mistakes. King David, despite all the good he did, succumbed to temptation and abuse of power in the incident with Bathsheba (II Sam. 11). Similarly, his son King Solomon, renowned for his wisdom, strayed from godly principles, leading to the division of his kingdom (I Kgs. 11:1-13).

The Old Testament is filled with sordid details of kings and others who failed to rule as they should have. Since there is nothing new under the sun (Ecc. 1:9), these biblical examples help explain the challenges faced by today’s leaders.

Understanding why leaders fail is more than knowing leadership ideals. It is understanding the difficulty of consistently applying them amidst myriad temptations and demands.

Modern leaders grapple with personal and social pressures that can derail even the most well-intentioned. Bad character attributes like greed, jealousy and selfishness are timeless human flaws that continue to plague people. Jeremiah 17:9 underscores just how bad human nature is: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”

Jesus taught His disciples and future leaders, “…whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister [servant]” (Mark 10:43). How realistic is this today when corruption and power chasing are rampant?

The reality of backroom deal-making and quid pro quo arrangements significantly complicate leadership. While sometimes viewed as necessary evils in politics and business, these practices usually conflict with the principles of transparency and integrity that leaders are expected to display. Again, realize that man’s political systems are inherently flawed and unbiblical.

Politics is often a series of battles, with the most ruthless and dishonest ultimately emerging victorious.

The futility of political infighting is well expressed in James 4: “From whence come wars and fightings among you? Come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? You lust, and have not: you kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: you fight and war, yet you have not, because you ask not” (vs. 1-2). Many leadership failures today are driven by lust or self-satisfaction.

The pressure to please people can be another major obstacle to effective leadership. It can result in compromised decision-making or telling people what they want to hear instead of what they need to hear. This becomes even more challenging when all the people do not agree, forcing leaders to change their message depending on the audience.

Such leaders, who often know better, find themselves torn between doing what is right and doing what is popular. The account of King Saul in the Bible shows this struggle. He “rejected the word of the Lord” to please the people (I Sam. 15:26).

Despite our high hopes for leadership, human nature and complicated social systems are significant obstacles.

God’s Standards

So where does this leave us? Leaders often know the right thing to do but do not live up to what is expected by God or the people they serve. How can those in charge close the gap between knowing what is right and doing it?

Leaders need help beyond themselves. Understanding the expectations of effective leadership is not enough. Leaders need a certain kind of guidance and strength to rise to the high standards expected of them. However, this help is not just about better policies, staff or funding—it is spiritual in nature. Only with God’s help can leaders hope to meet these high expectations.

Although most do not seek Him, God is perfectly willing to help those who ask. The book of Proverbs says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (3:5-6).

If leaders trust God for guidance instead of trying to do everything themselves, He promises to guide their decisions.

Leaders who meet God’s requirements naturally fulfill and even exceed the expectations of the people they lead. Proverbs 16:7 explains this principle: “When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.”

When leaders prioritize God’s standards, approval and support of the people often follows. Rather than lowering standards to fit into flawed systems, God-inspired leadership requires raising them to a higher level.

Guidance and instruction for leaders is freely available in Scripture. Proverbs 2:6 tells us, “The Lord gives wisdom: out of His mouth comes knowledge and understanding.” True wisdom comes from God. Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” The Bible shows the path toward effective leadership.

II Samuel 23:3 directly addresses leaders: “He that rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.” Exodus 18 shows that when Moses and Jethro sought leaders in ancient Israel, they looked for “able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens” (vs. 21).

Space does not allow us to cover all the wisdom God gives about leadership in His Word. But recognize that the responsibility for good leadership goes beyond the heads of nations.

What God expects from leaders, He expects from everyone. Why? Because we are all leaders in our own way. Every person is a leader in their daily lives—at home, at work or in society.

In our families, we have the choice to lead with love, respect and honesty, or with selfishness, rudeness and lies. At work, we lead by upholding ethical standards and promoting a positive environment, or we can instead do whatever it takes to get ahead, even if it means stepping on others. In our neighborhoods, we lead by being responsible citizens or we fail to properly lead if we care little or nothing about those around us.

The same standards we apply to public figures should guide our private lives. Jesus asked, “Why behold you the mote that is in your brother’s eye, but consider not the beam that is in your own eye?” (Matt. 7:3). We must be careful not to focus so much on the shortcomings of our leaders that we cast a blind eye to our own conduct.

The traits we expect from our leaders—integrity, competence, vision, empathy and accountability—are the same traits God expects from everyone. All leaders, not just those with official titles, must exemplify godly standards.

And just as the Bible can be a helpful guide to traditional leaders who hold public office, it is helpful to you. We all must seek and follow the same guidance and strength that God offers through scripture for effective leadership.

Applying godly leadership principles starts with you. Yet following God’s Word does not mean cherry-picking verses and principles to fit one’s own needs and purposes. It requires following the whole thing—something no nation on Earth does today. To get to that point, however, one must know for certain the Book is divinely inspired by God.

Order our free booklet Bible Authority...Can It Be Proven? It is sure to increase your conviction in God’s Word—and your desire to apply its wisdom in your life.