NEHEMIAH PART TWO
Nehemiah was a man of courage in the face of great danger.
He withstood Sanballat, ridicule, loose marriage laws, Sabbath desecration, laxity in tithings, and even rubbish. He
was filled with "holy boldness." He said, "Should such a man as I flee?" and "I will not go in." (6:11)
He would not go into the temple to save his life. He confronted nobles and rulers and even threw an evil man's belongings
out of the temple of God. (5:7, 13:8,11 and 17) We must be prepared to stand firm in our convictions and die if
necessary for the cause of Christ!
Nehemiah was a humble man who wrote of himself, "I was the king's
cupbearer." (1:11) He was not too proud to weep. (1:4) He didn't claim glory for himself but glorified God even
though a great work was being done through him. Pride is an ever present tempter and, at times, an awesome antagonist
and very subtle deceiver. Jeremiah 17:9 clearly tells us that, "The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately
wicked, who can know it?" Anyone who is in leadership must
deal decisively with this enemy of our souls! "Pride makes a man self-sufficient
and unteachable. It blinds him to his own needs. It causes him to ignore the good counsel and advice of others."
- Leroy Eims We often hear the phrase "proud as a peacock." People love to see peacocks because their plumage
is so beautiful, but the sound of a peacock's voice drives men away. Many men and women are also beautiful in outward
appearance but filled with the stench of pride, and when they speak their words and tone betray them. We desperately
need God's help in dealing with our pride. He alone can help us as He helped Nehemiah to be clothed with humility and
true godliness.
We could go on to discuss Nehemiah's persistence, fear of God,
dependency, independence, and inter-dependence, keen foresight, consideration for others, impartiality and generous appreciation
and encouragement of others which are all so vital to management, but these would comprise a book. Instead I have chosen
a few things that must be discussed, in my opinion, because they are very important.
One which may surprise some readers is that Nehemiah was a man
quite capable of intense anger. Seldom is this considered a good attribute, but properly controlled and directed it
is! Harry Emerson Fosdick states, "A good Christian is a man of wrath. His wrath is the negative electricity at
one end of his life, caused by the positive electricity of his love at the other end, and by a law of eternal necessity the
two are equal." Dwight L. Moody said, "That very word anger in the scriptures is one of the very strongest evidences
and expressions of God's love.", and Arthur T. Pierson wrote, "Anger may be dangerous, but the absence of it is a greater
danger still; it leaves man to be a mere jellyfish; Hence the Bible does not say, 'Be Not Angry', but 'be angry' and
sin not." A good leader would be a man of great love and great wrath. Nehemiah sets forth this example for
us also in verses 5:6-7 and 1:2-4.
Another quality that Nehemiah showed that is essential to good
leadership and management is unselfishness. He showed this at the very beginning when he renounced luxury, position
and salary to undertake a tiring and dangerous trip to attempt an extremely difficult job and risk his life among some bloodthirsty
enemies. He continued in encouraging and defending people, by intense intercession and in many ways being a fine example
to them. Fosdick says, "The inevitable expression of real Christianity is a life of sacrificial service." Oswald
Chambers states, "Never look for justice, but never cease to give it." Even Christ pleased not Himself, and a man of
God whose life paralleled his preaching J. Oswald Sanders stated, "Example is much more potent than precept." So we
can know that Nehemiah's example surely shows us the need for unselfish service.
Finally it must be noted that Nehemiah was a very good organizer.
He got letters to the governors through whose territories he was to pass (2:7), a letter to the keeper of the king's forest
so he could get the required timber for his project (2:8), and he made a careful survey and appraisal before making detailed
plans (2:11-16). He also made a detailed list of all persons available and dispensed the responsibilities (13:30).
He mentioned subordinates by name and the place they worked giving them recognition and a sense of being important.
He was wise in delegating responsibility (7:2). This verse also showed the high standards he set and expected from his
subordinates. Quite clearly Nehemiah was always aware of the complete situation and knew how to handle it.
In summary, he was a man of prayer, God's Word, humble, a faithful
witness, a courageous man, persistent, impartial, generous, encouraging, angry and self-denying man, and with all these, a
very good organizer. Above everything else, he was a man who loved and was devoted to God!
A final statement in God's Word measures the capability and
success of this man of God. His objective was finished - "So the wall was finished." (6:15) May we,
like Nehemiah, hear our Lord say, "Well done thou good and faithful servant!"
AMEN!
