Choosing Character Over Competence | Nehemiah 7:1-2

Now when the wall had been built and I had set up the doors, and the gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites had been appointed, I gave my brother Hanani and Hananiah the governor of the castle charge over Jerusalem, for he was a more faithful and God-fearing man than many. — Nehemiah 7:1-2 CALL OUT: Thanks to Jonathan Nowell, a faithful listener from Kemp, TX, for your friendship and support. As soon as I get it, I am going to be sending the first copy of Daniel: A Strong Man is Faithful. I should have a few copies in a couple of days. But for now, you can only pre-order them on Amazon. Nehemiah had just completed rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem, which required immense focus, effort, and dedication. With the wall standing and the gates finally secured, it was time to appoint military commanders and administration to oversee the city's affairs. In this critical moment, Nehemiah appointed two men: Hanani and Hananiah. Yet, notice how Nehemiah highlights Hananiah. Notice why he chose him. This detail is essential. Instead of choosing him based solely on his competencies and talents, he picked him for his character because he was competent, talented, and "more faithful and God-fearing than" others. Competency is one aspect of good leadership, but character moves a leader from being good to being great. This is because leadership competencies can be taught and caught. Everyone can learn and leverage new skills that scale our leadership. Yet, the leader's character is the force behind these competencies. Character is the motivational force. Character is the measure of a leader's reliability, trustworthiness, and moral standards that are crucial in shaping their actions and decisions. Character is a defining aspect of leadership that cannot be underestimated. It is the heart of leadership, the core that guides a leader's choices and behaviors. Character is not easily changed because it is deeply rooted in the motivation of the human heart, often driven by innate values and beliefs. This is why it's crucial to prioritize character when selecting leaders, just as Nehemiah did when choosing Hananiah. Consider the stark contrast between leaders like Hitler and Hussein, who possessed significant competencies but lacked character, and leaders like Hananiah, who combined competence with high character. The former left a legacy of destruction and suffering, while the latter has the potential to inspire, uplift, and lead with integrity. As we strive to become better leaders and select and develop leaders, remember Nehemiah's choice. Leadership competencies can be developed and improved, but character is hard to teach. Challenge yourself and those you influence to prioritize character over mere competencies, for the leader's character ultimately defines the greatness of a leader. #Nehemiah, #greatleaders, #charactermatters, #leadership, #leadwithcharacter ASK THIS: Reflect on a leader in your life, whether in your workplace, community, or any other context. What qualities of their character stand out to you as admirable? How have those character traits influenced their leadership and the impact they've had on others? Think about a time when you witnessed a leader with exceptional competencies but lacked character. How did their leadership affect those around them, and what were the consequences of their character deficiencies? What lessons can we draw from such experiences in selecting and developing leaders in our lives and communities? DO THIS: Lead with your character, build your competencies, and select others who do the same. PRAY THIS: Lord, help me prioritize character over competence in my leadership journey, understanding that character is the force that guides my actions and decisions, and grant me the wisdom to select and follow leaders who exemplify faithfulness and godliness in their character. Amen. PLAY THIS: Echo. Check out other all Vince Miller's videos and audios for small groups at: https://beresolute.org/ Get Vince's most widely read resources The Daily Devotional at: https://beresolute.org/mdd Check out more ALL IN products like the one Vince is wearing at: https://beresolute.org/product-category/all-in-hats/ ____________________________________________________________________________________ Connect with Vince socially: FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/millervince INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vinceleemiller LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vincemiller TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vinceleemiller