Build Zealously for the Lord
Nehemiah 3 gives a list of all those who were involved in rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem. At first glance this is not the most interesting reading in the Bible. But I think there is something in every portion of Scripture that can speak to us and has a lesson for us.
I noticed the many different types of people who were involved in the rebuilding. Even the high priest did his part. (Not like some "great" ministers today who don't like to get in the trenches.) There were priests, goldsmiths, perfume makers, rulers, Levites, temple servants, guards and merchants. Others didn't have their occupations mentioned but I imagine there were shepherds, farmers, keepers of orchards and vineyard keepers. Even women got into the act as one ruler repaired a section with the help of his daughters. (Verse 12)
I was also intrigued by the length of the sections that each person or group of people repaired. Some were quite long and included the gates; other seemed to be quite short. A number of the workers only repaired the section in front of their house. Hanun and the residents of Zonoah repaired the Valley Gate including its doors, bolts and bars and also repaired roughly one-third mile of the wall or 500 yards. (Verses 12-13).
Baruch, son of Zabbai was particularly mentioned. He "zealously repaired another section." (Verse 20). Of all the persons listed, he is the only one who built zealously.
These people were repairing a wall, but in the New Testament we are told that we are being built into a temple that God can inhabit. Eph. 2;22. In him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. Eph. 4:16. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love as each part does its work. Col. 2:19b. The analogy is the same. Just as the wall was being built, we are being built together into a temple in which God lives. As many people joined together to rebuild the wall and each one did something, so the body of Christ is being built and each person has a part to do.
Notice that there was no condemnation for the men who only built in front of their houses. The man who built a gate plus one-third mile did not flaunt his accomplishments to those who did less. There were people from all walks of life involved in this building and repairing and each one did what he could. So it is in the body of Christ. We each have a part to play and the body is built as every person does their work.
The secret is each one doing their part, no matter how little or how big. The only person that was in any commended was Baruch because he zealously repaired his section. Col. 3:23 tells us Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men. The same principle applies to us. If we want commendation from the Lord we need to do whatever we do with all our heart. God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Cor. 9:7). This applies not only to our money but our time and energy. The Scriptures in Rom. 12:4-8 tells of different functions we can have in the body of Christ and urges us to really give ourselves to whatever it is we are doing. A couple of these are "if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him to it cheerfully."
I don't know about you, but when I stand before the Lord I want him to commend me for building zealously.
Tomorrows Bible Reading - Genesis 15, Matthew 14, Nehemiah 4, Acts 14
God is good all the time,
Naomi Brinkman
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