You’ve heard about Hananiah, right? How about Shelemiah? Zadok? Perhaps Pedaiah? Or Hanan?
Although these men are all mentioned in the Old Testament of the Bible, don’t feel bad if they’re not familiar to you. They did not accomplish great feats, rule a kingdom, lead an army, spark a revival, or do anything seemingly notable.
They appear to be a mere footnote in the pages of history.
Even so, they are remarkable for one thing — a most important trait — their character.
Hananiah was asked to be a leader because he was a man of integrity.
Shelemiah, Zadok, Pedaiah, and Hanan were given responsibility because they were trustworthy.
Integrity and trustworthiness are two traits that seem to be in short supply nowadays, but they are characteristics that produce promotion and responsibility — perhaps not in grand and glorious ways, but subtly and humbly.
These are the kind of leaders, I think, that God delights in.
[See Nehemiah 7:2 and Nehemiah 13:13.]
A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.