Real faith does little things too!
We can say it and we can preach it but until we practice it, it means nothing.
August 11
Then Eliashib the high priest and the other priests started to rebuild at the Sheep Gate. They dedicated it and set up its doors, building the wall as far as the Tower of the Hundred, which they dedicated, and the Tower of Hananel.
Nehemiah 3:1
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Real faith does little things too!
The wall around Jerusalem was destroyed when Nebuchadnezzar conquered Judah and exiled its people. The fact that the wall is down is a reproach to the Jewish people and Nehemiah sets about to do something about it. In our verse for the day we see that the high priest is one of the first ones mentioned as taking part in the reconstruction. Whether or not he was physically involved is impossible to tell but the text suggests that he was. The high priest was one of the highest positions in the nation of Israel.
The fact that the high priest and the other priests were the first ones mentioned speaks of a spiritual principle that we all should be sensitive to. As spiritual leaders we ought to be the first ones on the wall to do the work that needs to get done. We need to set the example of what is expected. We should never fall into the trap of believing that we are someone important and therefore above certain activities. The moment that we do, we have disqualified ourselves from our ‘greater’ positions.
God can only use us while we realize that we are where we are because God placed us there. He placed us there to do a certain type of task but that does not elevate us above other necessary tasks. To accomplish the task of rebuilding the wall it was going to take everyone’s efforts. It encourages me that the high priest was right there in the midst of the work.
Often as I go about working around during the time that we set up the church on Sunday morning someone will see me doing something and will come over to take it from me and do it. I am one of those types that can’t sit still while others are working. When they do that I go and find something else to do. My goal is to set the example that the work that needs to get done can be done by anyone and that no one is above any kind of work.
This applies to all aspects of our lives, not just at church. At home, in our neighborhoods, at work, and at play we can set the example of a people that don’t think too highly of ourselves and does what we can to help other people wherever we can. Even little things like picking up trash in the parking lot at the grocery store can make a tremendous difference. There are so many little things that we could do to make life a little easier for someone else that cost us virtually nothing; except our pride.
We need to humble ourselves and actually want to find things to do that show the world that Christians care about someone or something other than themselves. We can say it and we can preach it but until we practice it, it means nothing. Jesus, help us to help.
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