“Look at all I’ve done for God!”

David Sproule

When Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem, the walls of the city remained in ruins.  After surveying the work to be done, Nehemiah challenged the leaders and the people to “rise up and build…The God of heaven Himself will prosper us; therefore we His servants will arise and build” (Neh. 2:18, 20).  The Bible records, “Then they set their hands to this good work” (2:18).  They worked diligently, “for the people had a mind to work” (4:6).  Even times of opposition did not deter them, but “with one hand they worked at construction and with the other held a weapon” (4:17).  When the enemies called for a compromise, Nehemiah responded, “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down” (6:3).  Nehemiah and the people of Israel worked and worked and “labored in the work” (4:21), so that they completed the walls in 52 days (6:15).

What’s the point?  God’s people accomplished something great, something so impressive, but it wasn’t done by them or for them.  Even their enemies “perceived that this work was done by our God” (6:16).  Is God working through you?  Are the things you do by Him?  For Him?