December 10, 2022

Nehemiah 7: 2 (NIV)

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 men do.

God has his own way of rewarding honorable and faithful work.*

I spent 25 years working my way to the top in my career until at the pinnacle I had to run for election in order to keep the position. I was determined that politics would not corrupt me. I had to do a lot of things that were so far beyond my comfort zone that they were in the Twilight Zone, but I did not compromise my principles. And I lost the election.

Nehemiah’s friend, Hananiah, was rewarded for his integrity. Merriam-Webster dictionary defines integrity as “firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values: incorruptibility.” Someone has said that integrity is who you are when no one is looking – but that could be the definition of hypocrisy as well. About humility, we say that if you think you have it, you don’t. About integrity, we could say that if you are using it for personal gain, you don’t really have it. A person might be able to give the appearance of integrity but God knows the heart. Integrity was not a stepping-stone in Hananiah’s pathway to success – it was who he was.

So what about me? And the rest of you out there whose integrity is not being rewarded by success? Perhaps we should redefine success. After the election, my campaign manager told me of the impact our team (all Christians) had on many of the people we met along the campaign trail. If we were able to plant some seeds of eternal value, then I say we won. I thought the goal was to win the election but God’s objective was much bigger than my career ambitions.

Be true to your Christian principles in a world that doesn’t value them. Your success may come in unexpected ways but God will reward your integrity.

Only in the light of eternity is godly living always more rewarding.*