A Mind to Work

Do you like to work? Do you like to work HARD? What kind of worker are you? When you are serving in the church, how do you work? When others describe how you work, what kinds of words do they use?

The Scriptures tell us very simply: "Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth" Proverbs 10:4.

The returned exiles in Nehemiah were working very diligently and because of that they were rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem at a record pace. This was happening in spite of overt opposition by the peoples surrounding them. Why did they work so hard?

There are numbers of reasons, but the primary reason given is, "...the people had a mind to work" Nehemiah 4:6. Where did this mind to work come from?

• It came from God. Everything we see happening in Nehemiah is the result of God fulfilling His promise to return His people to their land and to rebuild the temple. The heart of King Artaxerxes was in the hand of the Lord to allow Nehemiah to return and to give him help and supplies, 2:1-8. Nehemiah had a heart to fast and pray and make request of the King, etc. because of God's sovereign preparation of him for the work. It was the testimony of God's sovereign hand in sending Nehemiah that gave the people encouragement to do the work, 2:17ff.
• It came from Nehemiah. Nehemiah was obviously an accomplished individual who had gifts and abilities that made him qualified to be the King's cupbearer (a position of great influence, having access to the King. He would most likely be pleasant in appearance, wise, trusted, and of strong character). Note: Nehemiah had a PLAN. He studied the present state of the wall, factored in what would be needed to do the work and supply the work, and then presented it to the people. It KILLS our mind to work if we have no plan for it. Hope often comes in the form of a PLAN, because a plan says, "It can be done, and here's how." Note also: the people's mind to work came from Nehemiah's challenge/encouragement: "Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem" 2:17. Often all we need is for someone to say to us, "Come on, lets do this!" or "You can do this, God will be with you." or "Go for it!" Is there someone in your life who gives you encouragement and challenge to do what God has called you to do. That can make the difference between knowing what you should do and doing it.

How can you get a "mind to work"? From God. Cry out to Him for motivation. Ask Him to make clear what you are to do and how you are to do it (a PLAN) and when you are to do it. Ask for a mind to work with all your might and concentration and persistence until the work is done. BELIEVE that as God calls to the work, so He supplies all that is needed for the work.

Then, ask God for Nehemiahs in your life who will be the voice of challenge and encouragement to you to do God's will and to do it diligently and joyfully. Be a Nehemiah to someone else.