Few bless me more as a friend than an honest person. Men and women of integrity form the foundation of the civil society in which we all want to live. Every good leader finds roles for people of integrity.

Nehemiah put his brother Hanani in charge of Jerusalem, because he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most people do.

Not only was Hanani honest and dependable, he carried a deep reverence and understanding of the Lord. He feared God more than most. His integrity flowed from his knowledge and experience of the Lord. Hanani internalized the words of the law. He meditated on them, turned them over in his mind, struggled with their ideas and put them into practice.

Hanani’s fear of God moved him toward sincerity and trustworthiness.

The same idea emerged when Paul praised Timothy in his letter to the Philippian church—Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. The congregation welcomed Timothy as a man of honor and Biblical principles.

Integrity never grows old. Like Hanani, I hope to live as a man of integrity. I want friends who are people of integrity. The surest way to get there? Respect the Lord and practice his ways.

Nehemiah 7 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Cytonn Photography