WEDNESDAY March 22, 2017
A Unified Effort
Next to him Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, one of the goldsmiths, made repairs. Also next to him Hananiah, oneof the perfumers, made repairs; and they fortified Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall. - Nehemiah 3:8
Notice, there was a unified effort between Nehemiah and God’s people in the work of the Lord. Certainly there was no possible way Nehemiah could have done this great work on his own. The people, with their different gifts and talents, all joined together to help with the repairs. It did not matter if they were goldsmiths, perfumers, leaders, priests or from a different district of Jerusalem, they all worked together, as one, in complete harmony. At a later time, Nehemiah gave credit to the people who had helped him rebuild the walls (Nehemiah 4:6).
Jethro knew Moses could not lead the people of Israel by himself. He had the same wisdom as Nehemiah. Jethro knew he could not do the work on his own, so he approached Moses. Jethro suggested establishing a chain of command. Place men over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens so they could judge the people’s problems. Then Moses could use his time sensibly in prayer and the Word. Only the difficult problems needed to be brought to him. Otherwise Moses would wear himself out (Exodus 18).
These examples remind me of 1 Corinthians Chapters 12-13. Christ is the head of the Church––the body of believers, and He uses every believer as a hand, foot, eye or ear in the building of the body of Christ.
He has given each of us gifts and talents to be used in the work of God. As we serve the Lord, He enables us to be in harmony as we work together.
Are you a gifted and loyal person, one who can lift up your leader’s hands, as you work alongside of them?
As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
~1 Peter 4:10~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit Somebodylovesyouradio.org!