Willing workers

Last week, we finished up our discussions on being godly leaders, wherever God places us. This week, we will look at the responsibilities of "followers."
Because, in order to accomplish God's purpose, we need not only godly leaders but willing workers who are ready to do their part!

Remember what the people said?

They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this good work. (Nehemiah 2:18b)

Nehemiah told them of his vision of what God wanted to accomplish. Working together, Nehemiah and the people accomplished what no one could have done individually.
They were willing to cooperate, to coordinate their work with one another in order to make the overall cause move forward. We've already looked at how some of them worked in front of their own homes. Did you see when you read the chapter that some people came from outlying cities to help?

The men of Jericho built the adjoining section, and Zakkur son of Imri built next to them.The next section was repaired by the men of Tekoa, but their nobles would not put their shoulders to the work under their supervisors.Next to them, repairs were made by men from Gibeon and Mizpah—Melatiah of Gibeon and Jadon of Meronoth—places under the authority of the governor of Trans-Euphrates. (Verses 2, 5, and 7)

You can check verses 13, 14, 16, and 17 for more examples of folks who came from "out of town" to help with the work. They worked together with the city dwellers willingly, and then they went home when the work was completed.
Are you like me? Do you wonder why they were willing to work amidst the rubble and the ridicule (of the nay-sayers) and help accomplish God's purpose?
I guess that they may have felt they would be more secure in their villages, if the capital in Jerusalem was strong and secure. Or maybe they were inspired by the knowledge that the temple would be secure behind the walls; they could safely go there and take part in the important feast times.  I really think that beyond these reasons, they were willing to work for the overall cause so that the name of the Lord and of His people would no longer be a reproach among the nations. There would be respect for the nation and glory for their God.

I also like to read about how they coordinated the project so that all of the parts fit together perfectly. Each of them knew what his task was -- and did it -- but he did it with his eyes open and looking for harmony and cooperation with the others . . . it wouldn't have worked if one man built his section, but he didn't interlock it with the section right next to his. Have you ever played with a child and their Lego building blocks? Or other kind of blocks that interlock together? If you have, you know that one section of a wall needs to be locked into the next section. If it's not, it will fall over!
In the same way, the men building the gates had to coordinate and cooperate with the men building the walls around the gates!
In God's kingdom, it's not enough to have a whole bunch of independent ministries alongside each other. It's good to be involved, and to be loyal, but some people carry it a bit too far, and almost choose sides, determining which ministries to support and work in. But it's not a competition, folks!

What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.” (I Corinthians 1:12)

It's important to make certain that we are working together in supporting the overall cause of Christ.

I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. (I Corinthians 1:10)

Some comedian long ago said that all they needed to know in life they learned in kindergarten....yes, we were taught to cooperate, weren't we? (Grin)

Two are better than one,    because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down,    one can help the other up.But pity anyone who falls    and has no one to help them up. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)

When we focus on cooperation, we will find that we complement each other. What do I mean? Well, everyone in chapter three couldn't do the same job. Some worked on the walls; some worked on the gates. Hanging a large city gate was not an easy task! Some were strong enough to carry heavy stones or large timbers. Others struggled to carry bricks. But each worker was important to the cause. There were no "little" or "unimportant" jobs.

Let's look again at what Paul has to tell us:

 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!”  (I Corinthians 12:18-21)

Just like the willing workers in Nehemiah's day, each of us has a specific and important job to do. We all depend on each other in order for the cause of Christ to be accomplished.

More on this next time!