September 12, 2022
Daily Devotion:
"Special Task…"
Nehemiah 7:2
New International Version
2 I put in charge of Jerusalem my brother Hanani, along with Hananiah the commander of the citadel, because he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most people do.
Some might call it nepotism. In fact, one wonders if Nehemiah isn't being somewhat defensive even to explain why he put his brother in charge. Did he perhaps feel a need to justify his decision to his critics? Man of integrity that he was, Nehemiah surely can't be faulted for giving his brother too glowing a recommendation. So why not place the best man in the job, even if he happens to be your brother? In light of current experience, Nehemiah's Emphasis on integrity as a quality of leadership is refreshing. Even in Christian Circles, leadership with integrity can be hard to find. Not surprisingly, people of integrity often prefer being in the background while people without it seek the limelight. For those who are bent on self-promotion, integrity can stand in the way. To get ahead it's tempting to live in the shadow less ands of truth. To embellish one's portfolio where others are too humble to tout their (often greater) achievements. Integrity, of course, is not just about telling the truth. It is a character trait that reflects a far deeper set of values pervasive in a person's life. Note the connection which Nehemiah makes between integrity and fearing God. Despite The lip service one might make to faith and religion, show us a leader who lacks integrity and you can be sure that what he lacks most is a genuine fear of God. One's lack of integrity begins with one's lack of relationship with God. Lying Only happens because of what is underlying. So praise God for Nehemiah's Brother, and shame on all Christian leaders who fall below his high standard.
The question for even non-leaders is: Am I a person of such integrity that God himself could feel comfortable putting me in charge of some special task, however lowly?
