QT: Builders or Bystanders? Nehemiah3:1–5 Week 27: 27/06/2023. Tue
The God who can simply say "Let there be light (and city wall)" nearly always preferred to work through co-working with the efforts of His people. Let's join Him as co-builders.
Nehemiah 3:1 Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers the priests, and they built the Sheep Gate. They consecrated it and set its doors. They consecrated it as far as the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Tower of Hananel. (ESV)
Nehemiah 3 displayed God's preference to involve entire communities to do His mission and will. Here in Nehemiah 3, the lists contained (1) list of families, or (2) list of artisans to build grouped according to the vocations, or (3) listed by location along the walls, towers and gates. Women's names were also included.
God's work is not only for the few, the "called", the "appointed", or the "paid". God's work is for all and all participate in a different but co-operative way. You and I are not identical, or else one of us might seem redundant.
Work is significant if we place God into the workplace. As we build for God's kingdom, we find meaning and significance in all that we do. We are already made in God's image, saved by His grace—nothing you can do to add to His salvation on the cross. What's left for the balance time we have, is to do that which we cannot do while in heaven—do God's work on earth.
