Do our lives count for God?

In today's world, just as in the past, many people struggle with thoughts and feelings of depression. They may voice their feelings or they may internalize them. Their thoughts may be "what am I here for?" Or, "is my life worthwhile?" "What am I accomplishing with my life?"

If you walk into a bookstore, just glance at how many shelves are filled with self-help books, and books of philosophy, both new and old. It's amazing!

As we grow older, there is even more of a tendency to contemplate the value of the things we do and say. Are we making a difference? Will we effect positive change? Are we really helping anyone?

I think we all feel that way at times. And we all have had times when our thoughts have been occupied with "life goes so quickly!" It all serves to make us wonder, how can we spend our lives so that they count for something truly worthwhile? If we make efforts to spend our time here so that our lives count for God and His purposes, we are on the right path! Because if our lives count for God, it's not just now, but for eternity!

Our question then changes . . . it becomes: how can we live so that our lives count for God?
Instead of pulling a philosophy text book off the shelf, our focus should be on the Bible! And it may surprise us, but the seventh chapter of Nehemiah has some answers for us.
Remember back when we studied the book of Ezra? The second chapter of Ezra was one of those books that we puzzle over, at first. What is this one here for? (Grin) It's essentially a long list of names, half of which we have trouble pronouncing. Well, part of the next chapter of Nehemiah is very similar to Ezra 2. At first, we are tempted to think, well, this is not going to be one that I remember and come back to . . . but hang on!
Stay with me, OK? You might change your mind!
I hope you will take time this week to read the chapter; our studies are always more fruitful when we read and consider His Word.
This chapter seems like a page in an antiquarian book -- have you seen a chapter near the middle of a very old book, sometimes it's called "Volume II," or "Act II," or "Intermezzo," or something else fancy.  Basically, it's calling our attention to the passage of time. It's kind of a pivot point sometimes, or an intermission. The next part of the book will be different somehow.

Well, chapter seven of Nehemiah is like that. Chapters one through six describe the restoration of the wall and gates of the city of Jerusalem. Then, chapters eight through thirteen are going to tell about the restoration of the people of Judah.
In the seventh chapter itself, when we read the first three verses, we see the precautions that Nehemiah took in order to guard the newly walled city from attack. It's kinda like we are latching the closed door of the first half of the book. From verse four through the end of the chapter, we see how Nehemiah went about making sure that the city was repopulated -- making certain that it was going to be a vibrant, vital center of national and spiritual life.
In Ezra 2, the list of names was there because they wished to document the heritage of the people, and to determine who was a true Jew, and who could function as a priest, etc. Now, in Nehemiah, the list was to determine who could build houses in the now walled city, and who could provide for temple worship?
Let's read the verses:

After the wall had been rebuilt and I had set the doors in place, the gatekeepers, the musicians and the Levites were appointed. 2 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 people do. 3 I said to them, “The gates of Jerusalem are not to be opened until the sun is hot. While the gatekeepers are still on duty, have them shut the doors and bar them. Also appoint residents of Jerusalem as guards, some at their posts and some near their own houses.” 4 Now the city was large and spacious, but there were few people in it, and the houses had not yet been rebuilt. 5 So my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles, the officials and the common people for registration by families. I found the genealogical record of those who had been the first to return. This is what I found written there: (v. 1-5)

The city was spacious, with room for many houses and businesses. A few had been restored, since we saw references to people building the wall sections near their homes. The rest would need to be rebuilt, just as the walls had been (in less than sixty days, according to our last chapter!).  Nehemiah uses this count and list to remind the people of their national identity, and to encourage them to fulfill their responsibilities. The temple needed to be maintained and cared for, so that the spiritual life of the Jewish people could continue.

(There are variations between the two lists that are difficult and cause people no end of questions. They want to compare them, and then get into discussions of inerrancy and copies and scribes and more. I'm not going down that rabbit trail, thank you very much! I will leave that to the scholars, since the Spirit has shown me some points that we can study without delving into things that can certainly be accepted by faith. After all, when we meet Ezra and Nehemiah in heaven, if we are still interested, we can ask them.)

What I'd like to study this week is HOW we make our lives count for God. It's an important message that we can find in this chapter.  Stay with me, OK? And be sure to read the chapter!