Nehemiah
3 is all about work. We see the phrase “and next to them” keeps
appearing. It shows individuals pitched in and did the work together,
coordinated and led by Nehemiah.
What
are the lessons for us?
1.
LEADERSHIP EXAMPLE. The first worker mentioned was Eliashib the high priest and
his brethren (verse 1). It was right that the high priest should be first in
this holy work. When the people saw that the high priest was working, they
would follow suit.
If
there is a spring cleaning in the office and the boss rolls up his sleeves and
starts to clean up the place, I don’t think anyone else would be sitting around
doing nothing. “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also
suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps” (1
Peter 2:21)
2.
CO-OPERATION. They built…built…built; every man was busy working. Many hands
lighten the work. God wants every church member to be involved and working
together. Paul says: “For we are labourers together with God” (1
Corinthians 3:9).
3.
FAMILY EXAMPLES. The work done was a reflection on the family; almost everyone
mentioned is the son of someone (verse 4, 6, 8). What does it tell us? It
is in the family our children learn how to work. And parents are responsible
for teaching their children to work hard and they must show it by being hard
working adults.
Fathers,
your children are following your examples. If you are working zealously for the
Lord, your children will be working zealously in God’s kingdom too. Look around
you: every son is following in the footsteps of his father. “And, ye fathers,
provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and
admonition of the Lord” (Ephesiand 6:4).
4.
OWNERSHIP. In Nehemiah 3:10, we read that Jedaiah the son of Harumaph, was
repairing “over against his house.” It was the part of the wall which
stood right against his own house. If you want to repair the portion of a wall
in front of a house, you get the person who lives in that house to do it. Why?
Because it is next to his house he will surely put in his best effort to do a
good job. He would not want that portion of the wall in front of his house to
become weak and collapse and the enemies walk right in; he would want it to be
the strongest portion because he lives there.
Likewise,
the church is one big family. Do the work of the church as if it is your own
work. It is not the elders’ work or anyone else’s work; it is my work; it is
your work; it is OUR work. We want this church to grow and be known for her
faithfulness, love and good works; we are going to make it happen. Therefore, “Let
us rise up and build” (Nehemiah 2:18).
5.
DON’T BE DISCOURAGED BY BAD EXAMPLES. Every man was busy working except one
group of men: the nobles from Tekoa refused to work (verse 5). The nobles of
Tekoa were selfish and proud but fortunately, the rest from Tekoa did not
follow their bad example. It did not discourage the rest of the Jews too for
they worked.
Today,
some refuse to work in God’s vineyard because they say there are others who are
also not working. But, why follow bad examples? Why not follow those who are
zealously working for the Lord? Follow the good examples: “Be imitators of
me, as I am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).
The
church is our family. Let each and every one of us be busy building up this
church.
Jimmy Lau
Psa
119:97 Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.
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