WORKING TOGETHER

Nehemiah 3:1-32 – The Value of Unity, Teamwork, and Encouragement LOOKING INTO THE preaching through the book of Nehemiah YOU MAY NOTICE A FEW THINGS ONE A LONG LIST OF VERY HARD TO PRONOUNCE NAMES THAT OFTEN MAKES SUCH A CHAPTER EASY TO BYPASS BUT TWO AND MORE IMPORTANTLY YOU WILL NOTICE IT IS A ACTION PACKED CHAPTER

Nehemiah 3 is an account of how the wall of Jerusalem was rebuilt, who did the rebuilding, and which family built which part. In fact that is basically how the entirety of the chapter is laid out. This family rebuilt the wall from here to here and beside them these people were there and so on and so forth. This is a good example of the repetition that is present in many Old Testament passages. Though this does not make for gripping and compelling reading it does show the attention that the Jews of this time had to detail ,and gives us some good lessons for our lives today. This passage teaches a lot about unity, teamwork, and encouragement.Let me touch on four lessons we can learn from this passage.

1)Burdens are Lighter when Everyone Works Together.

One of the amazing accomplishments that occurs in the book of Nehemiah is the fact that it only took the people 52 days to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem

Nehemiah 6:15 NKJV

So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in fifty-two days.

Now granted there were still lots of things to be done after this but what an amazing feet that was able to be done.

This was accomplished because everyone was working together. One thing chapter 3 of Nehemiah shows us is the sheer amount of people that were working on the wall. What is also reminds us of is the AMOUNT of the work at hand. Jerusalem was not a small village but a large city covering a substantial area. It is only by everyone of those people working diligently together that the work got done. This shows the principle that working together lightens the burden of the work God has for us.

This is most clearly seen in the church environment when so much of the work that the church does relies upon everyone doing their part. Take, for example, a very common event at a church, vacation Bible school. Countless numbers of these programs are put on each year. Each one a huge undertaking ministering to unknown millions of children every summer.

The way in which these events happen occurs through the church working together and everyone doing their part to make these Bible schools successful. The burden is lightened by all those that help.

Here’s something for us to seriously ponder. Study after study shows that about 90% of the work done in a church is done by only about 10% of the people in the church. This is true across the board from small congregations to mega churches. What could the church accomplish with 100% of the church working for the cause of Christ and the Glory of God? Think of the evangelistic outreach, the discipleship opportunities, and vast work that could be done if the church as a whole would come together to accomplish the tasks laid out by Jesus.

Here’s three questions we can all ask ourselves in consideration of this.

Am I a burden to the work God is trying to do around me or am I making the burden lighter?If a study was done at my church would I be counted in the 10% that does most of the work or in the 90% that only account for 10%?Which group would I like to be remembered as being part of?

2) Work goes faster when everyone works together

Fifty two days is an astonishing amount of time for the wall of Jerusalem to be rebuilt. Now granted the people were not starting from scratch, they were rebuilding as opposed to building walls from the ground up, but still the description of the wall that Nehemiah received in chapter one was a pretty poor one

Nehemiah 1:3 NKJV

And they said to me, “The survivors who are left from the captivity in the province are there in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.”

However, when people work together there is a speed that can be achieved that cannot be accomplished alone. Two people working together can mow a lawn over twice as fast as a single person. Ask anyone who has gone to a seminar on productivity and they will tell you five people, working together, can fold more paper airplanes than five people working apart.

Ecclesiastes 4:9–12 NKJV

Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Work goes faster when everyone works together. It is vividly shown in Nehemiah 3 and remains true when speaking of things done in ministry.  I’m not simply speaking about how quickly chairs get put up after a church social but also the vitally important and eternally significant work that church is here to do. How quickly can visitation, evangelism, ministering to the needs of others, and other such work be done when we all work together.

Let’s face it the church has a lot of work to do but at the rate we are accomplishing it, that work might not ever get done. It would go faster and be done better if we all stepped up and did the things that God by His Spirit has equipped us to do. Let me remind you that the church of Jesus Christ is supposed to be a moving entity that not even the gates of hell can stand against. However, if all of the church does not stand and take up the work each individual is called to the church will not have the momentum to ring the door bell of hell let alone knock down it’s gates.

I do not SAY this to bring anyone down but rather to encourage us all that we can work together and we should be working for the Glory of God. When we labor in unity for our Savior that work will go quickly and be wondrously beneficial to all the world.

Here’s some questions to think about when it comes to the church and how quickly its work is being done.

Am I acting like grease in the axles or glue in the gears?How can I help the work of the church and in turn help my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ do what needs to be done?What is my place in the church and am I where I need to be?

3) Each person’s work is important

As you’re reading Nehemiah 3 you probably have thought ‘wow Jerusalem has a lot of gates.’ It’s true Jerusalem did have a lot of gates back then, some less prestigious than others and let’s face it most people could only name 2 or 3 if they really tried. However, when you look at it from a construction and strategic standpoint there is no gate or wall that is more or less important. Sure, some might be more prestigious than others, I believe I would rather be working on the Fountain Gate than the Dung Gate, but all were important.

1 Corinthians 12:12–31 NKJV

For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.

The fact of the matter is if every one of the gates and walls were rebuilt with the exception of one, Jerusalem would not be safe. If one gate or one wall did not get rebuilt it would be open season on the inhabitant of Jerusalem because their defenses would be worthless in the presence of an unfinished piece of the wall.

The same is true of the work of the church and the work that we do in the service of God Almighty. Sometimes the work we do might feel insignificant or trifle but there is a huge purpose in it and can have eternal consequences

Right now you might be feeling the same way with the seemingly small things you are doing for God. It might feel like you’re building the Dung Gate with no purpose but I assure you, you can never estimate what God is doing though your service to Him. Every aspect of ministry is of untold value to the purposes of God.

Remember these things the next time you feel down and out because you think the work you do is small.

God uses small things to do great works David and Goliath The Feeding of the 5,000 All things work together in God’s great plan Romans 8:28

Every part of the Body of Christ is Important

4) Each person is due recognition for his work

This final point is one that I make to those in leadership, the pastorate, those with children, and anyone in the position to praise another for the work that they do for the Lord. In this life that we live for God we need cheerleaders. Not ones that are inflating our egos but ones telling us good job and keep up the good work. Nehemiah 3 stands as a record of who did the work but I bet it also encouraged all the men who were working on that wall knowing that their names were being written down. I suspect they worked a little harder when they realized that when someone read the pages of the account of the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem that their names would be seen.

Let me urge you to encourage and cheer on everyone you can when the work of God is being done. Parents, build your children up and praise them for serving the Lord. Pastors, encourage and recognize those in your congregation that have worked diligently for the Lord. Be a cheerleader that the work of God might continue and that the servants of God might not lose heart.

Discouragement is a reality for those that would follow after Christ. This world will relentlessly say that what we are doing is pointless and our efforts are futile in what we are trying to accomplish. Discouragement is a reality that is as sure as taxes and high gas prices. The sad fact that we need to take notice of is that an environment of encouragement and healthy cheering is only present when Christians chose to act and make it happen and there is a great need for that today.

The Christian church, the christian home, and those places filled with Christians ought to be places where people’s spirits are lifted up. The only way a person should be able to leave church discouraged is by a sheer act of a stubborn will coupled with the intentional deafness THE HARDENING ONES HEART to the uplifting and encouraging words of all the saints that are present and a chosen numbness to those trying to lift them and their spirits high.

Let me end by giving some advice on being one who  encourages and recognizes the work that people do for God.

Be on the look out for those that you can encourage (you’ll be surprised how many people need a word of encouragement)Regularly encourage those that are in the habit of serving God

recognize THAT THE Christian life IS NOT A SOLITUDE LIFE BUT A COMMUNAL LIFE

that IT REQUIRES ALL TO COME TOGETHER IN PERFECT UNITY TO PREFORM GREAT WORKS FOR GOD

SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER IN THE EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES THAT THEY PROVIDE FOR THE KINGDOM FOR THE CHURCH FOR THE COMMUNITY

GIVE A APPRECIATION TO ONE ANOTHER WHEN YOU SEE THE LIGHT COMING FORTH FROM WITHIN THEM