Recurrent Thought

God’s Kingdom, manifested in local assemblies, ministry, faith-movements etc., is built and thrives when God’s people work together.

Nehemiah Chapter 3 at first glance seems to be a chapter with less “revelation." However, one thing clear about Scriptures is that even texts that seems base and mundane still carry theological weight, purpose, and inspiration for living. Nehemiah 3 is not merely a registry of building activities, but it is a great picture of teamwork. It is a model of unity, cooperation, responsibility, and shared calling. 

After the exile, Jerusalem was in ruins. God stirred Nehemiah and the people to rebuild. Chapter 3 reveals how God works through ordinary people who stand side by side, each repairing their portion of the wall. The Principles that we generate out of this text can be applied for any Project, organizational or national building.

Nehemiah’s vision of rebuilding the City would not be a reality without the support and work of hundreds of willing helpers (volunteers). What he accomplished through these helpers is the manifestation of the power of Teamwork. Kingdom Work is founded and driven by a philosophy and culture of team work. Only God can build things alone, but human beings need others to build anything significant.

We must hasten to state that working in teams is not always easy. Some people fail to do so; while others leave the church for failure to fit in teams of an assembly. While the injunction is Let us rise and build; others will say let us rise and oppose. God can use anyone to build, the devil can also use anyone to oppose. Paul recognised that God’s work has enemies. In 1 Cor. 16:9 he mentioned that there was an effectual open door, but there was also great opposition. It is critical to remind ourselves that we should not be the one that causes others to stumble. It is carnal, to claim that You can’t work with another for whatever reason

Five Truths about Kingdom Work

1. Building is done Side by Side

• Building Side by Side is foundational for continuous effort and impact
• The reality is that there was coordination, orderliness and connectivity. The teams were connected.
• Building Side by Side Thrives under a Shared Vision (3:1)
• How and why they started narrating from where Eliashib the High Priest began from is a curious thing.
• The city walls are being built following a counter clock wise direction starting with the Sheep gate. This is where sheep that were used in the temple animal sacrifices were brought in from outside the city.
• The Word to build appears eight times as workers run at two miles while working
• The work of rebuilding the city of Jerusalem was to be done by a united work teams
• Similarly, Kingdom building begins when God's people unite under one purpose, working in harmony, shoulder to shoulder.
• Nehemiah highlights unity from the top. Shared Vision is better done with the tone set by the leaders
• Every ministry begins with aligned vision. Where leaders lead by example, people follow.
• Building Side by side is Founded on Shared Labor (3:2)
• The whole chapter shows how individuals and teams commit to  
• There are 38 different names of workers mentioned and 42 working teams in this chapter
• The common phrase is next to them, or after them, which is repeated 28 times forming the rhythm of cooperation.
• This phrase is critical in showing that all that we do in the kingdom of God is connected to what other likeminded people do
• No one builds the Kingdom alone. Churches thrive when each person takes a place “next to others.”

2.  Everyone Has a Place in the Kingdom (Neh. 3:8, 12, 26, 32)

• God uses people who come with different giftings (3:8)
• Notice the different types of persons with different vocations
• Nehemiah was a cupbearer and not an engineer. We have Perfumers; artizans, merchants, Priests, etc. Your profession, talent, or personality becomes a tool in God’s hands.
• All these despite their vocation came and built the City. “God doesn’t need your skill—He needs your availability
• Some were form within while others were from outside and from far. Nehemiah came from a 1000 miles away. Distance was no excuse.
• The Kingdom of God Receives People of Every social class
  • People of every social class and background joined in the same project. Merchants, Servants, Cupbearers, Priest, etc. Some were well to do others were poor people.  In the Kingdom, roles differ but dignity is equal and nobody is useless.
• Working with others despite your social class implies being tolerant to others. It means sacrificing your luxuries, like Nehemiah or closing business like the Merchants for 52 Days (3:32).
• Entire Families are called to Work (3:12)
• Notice in Shallum worked with his daughters. We have men, women young and old.
• The daughters joined the labor. Notice that the scriptures does not just celebrate men, but also women despite the cultures of the middle East (Mirriam, Naomi, Ruth, Rahab, Bathsheba, Hulda, Mary, Lidia, Priscila
• The Kingdom of God is built by transgenerational Resources
• Ministry is stronger when families serve together. It has been said that a family that prays together stays together, let us also note that “A family that builds together, stays together.”

3.You Repair Your Part of the Wall

• Personal responsibility is the hallmark of Kingdom Citizens. Everyone who is a child of God feels constrained to work for God. Doing nothing in the kingdom of God is tantamount to rejecting personal responsibility is (Neh 3:10, 23, 28, 29)
• Your service should fit You
• The Kingdom advances when each believer faithfully builds the portion God assigns to them.
• Kingdom work is done with joy and enthusiasm. Rarely should we do kingdom work while fighting God. It should be from a thankful heart.
• Build where you are

Notice that People build within their vocation, and their locality. He fits people within their locality. The Priests built around the Sheep gate. The People built around their house. Built around their houses, to ensure security. It fitted them. Lots of them built close to their homes. Bloom were you are planted? Your service for the Lord should be based on the giftings from the Lord. Find your Comfort Zone and your Gifting Zone; that is the area you are meant to serve. Spiritual gift with natural talents match. Serve were you fit.

• Many worked in front of their own homes, where responsibility hits closest (3:10, 23-24; 28-30)
• Spiritual responsibility starts in our homes, marriages, children, character. Before you build the world, build your house.”
• There is a place for everyone. Find a place in what God is doing. Find you place by your skills and talents (Nehemiah3:1-2)

4. Some Work harder than others

• Notice two sets of persons with distinct work ethics
• Baruch worked deligently (v20) . Baruch son of Zabbai eagerly rebuilt the section of the wall that went all the way to the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest (Neh. 3:20 CEV)
• The Tekoaites (v5) the nobles did not work.  “But their nobles put not their necks to the work of their Lord.” (KJV They showed up but never stepped up.  There is a historical reason for the People of Tekoa (Nobles). Some scholars believe they were never colonized and therefore, they never knew the pain of being a slave. They are never mentioned among the exiles Returnees came back in three Batches as found in Ezra 2 and Nehemiah 7. May be they were not taken into captivity. The possibility is also they could have aligned with the Arabs for they lived south of Judah towards Arabia
• Some people despite being in the team won’t do anything. They won’t contribute to team success
• Although Laziness is never accepted in the Kingdom of God, but the reality is that there are people who will not work.
• Even in Church it happens. Unfortunately, many turn the church service as a Watching Service: they dress up, they watch and then they leave.
• Few people do a lot while many just lazy about. There will be members in the team that won’t work; They want to share glory but don’t want to work Nehemiah 3:5.
• This is a call to fully participate in Kingdom work. Resist Luke warmness (3:5)!
• So this is a sad fact that even in a unifying moment, some refuse to work. Alignment is a choice.
• In the Kingdom, apathy is disobedience. God calls all, not some, to the wall to build.”

5. Everything Must Glorify God

• Why do we work for God? What is the Purpose?
• The greater purpose is indicated in Neh. 2:17-20. We want to do it for the Glory of God.
• It does not matter your vocation, when you do your work with integrity, you are living for the glory of God.
• When Your work is for full of integrity and glorifies God, It lifts what you do to a higher life.
• Col 3:23  Do your work willingly, as though you were serving the Lord himself, and not just your earthly master.
• We were created for His Pleasure
• The Westminster Catechism has one statement What is the chief end of man? The chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever (Rev. 4:11)
• The ultimate goal of human existence: For your pleasure they were made Rev. 4:11.
  • Rev 4:11  "Our Lord and God! You are worthy to receive glory and honor and power. You made all things. Everything existed and was made because you wanted it
  • Col 1:16  Through his power all things were made: things in heaven and on earth, seen and not seen— all spiritual rulers, lords, powers, and authorities. Everything was made through him and for him. 
  • Col 1:17 The Son was there before anything was made. And all things continue because of him (Read Col. 1:15-23)

Conclusion

Nehemiah 3 teaches us:

•  Teaches us that Team Work ensures that we advance on the goals as we envisage the vision for our organization