Are You Doing Your Part?
For the past few weeks, I’ve been studying the book of Nehemiah again. I love that little book of the Bible. There is so much meat in there, and it seems like every time I read it, I see things from a different perspective.
The first time I dove into Nehemiah, I saw the correlation between the building of the wall and the battle against anxiety and depression. I uncovered so many nuggets of wisdom during the study that I wrote a four-book series entitled, Rise Up and Build.
Other times, I saw the events in the book as an analogy to dealing with life in general. After all, the book covers the topics of prayer, determination, persistence, attack from without, internal strife, teamwork, remembering where we came from, and so much more.
This time, I’m seeing Nehemiah’s efforts and how they relate to revival. Living here in a place where the majority of the churches and chapels are dead or dying, my heart has been burdened to see a change. The congregations seem to have lost all hope of revival, which shows in their services. There is no joy. There is little life. It doesn’t feel like worship! It feels like the act of going through the motions just to keep the doors open. And it breaks my heart.
With these burdens occupying my thoughts, God opened my eyes to the proper way to build or rebuild a church. We can find each step in the book of Nehemiah. (And yes, I’ll probably write a book on it.). In all seriousness, the chapters lay out a beautiful picture of something that was dying and decaying being brought back to life through the leadership of Nehemiah and the cooperation of the people.
Building the walls was an enormous job, and Nehemiah knew he couldn’t do it alone, so he got the people excited enough that they were willing to pitch in. Sure, he could have asked the king to send along laborers or even for money to hire laborers. I’m pretty sure the king would have agreed. But Nehemiah knew the wall would mean so much more to the people of Israel if they had a part in building it.
Each family got busy working on the section in front of their house. With everyone working, the overwhelming task became achievable, and the people became excited about their work. A few, however, felt they were too important or something to dirty their hands, so they sat back and watched everyone else work (Nehemiah 3:5). But even without their help, the wall was completed in a mere 52 days.
Building a church or ministry requires both leadership and teamwork. When both are present, even the seemingly impossible work can be accomplished. We all have ways we can contribute to the work of God. The question is, are we doing it? Do we go to church to see what we can get or to see what we can give? Do we sit through the services like a bump on a log, doing little to nothing to participate in the worship time? Do we volunteer to help out before, after, or during church? Do we attend the mid-week services, Bible studies, soul-winning time, or other church ministries? Are we involved? Are we doing our part? Or are we like the nobles who folded their arms and muttered, “Not me. I’ll just sit here and watch”?
I once heard it put like this: The church isn’t a cruise ship where most people sit back and relax while a few others serve. The church is a battleship where it’s all hands on deck. At least, that’s how it’s supposed to be. Why are the churches dying? Well, I’m sure there are many reasons, but I can guarantee you one of them is because we, as the members, stopped doing our part. Oh, may God forgive us and help us to remedy this before it’s too late and the church doors are closed for good.
Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach. Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work. - Nehemiah 2:17-18