Articles
Serving in Any Way We Can
When Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls of the city and restore the dignity to God’s people, the place was a wreck. His job looked hopeless, but Nehemiah believed God could do the impossible. He rallied the people, putting them to work carrying stones, framing doors, and defending one another from attacks.
“Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, one of the gold smith, made repairs. Also next to him Hananiah, one of the perfumers, made repairs; and they fortified Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall” (Neh. 3:8).
Did you see that, Uzziel was a goldsmith; but when asked to carry huge rocks, he didn’t complain. Hananiah, a perfumer, also carried stones. He went from making perfume to slinging mortar, swinging a hammer, and lugging rocks. And he worked next to a goldsmith.
I wonder: in our world of specialization, would these two fellows would have done those jobs today? How often do our specialized skills keep us for just doing whatever needs to be done? How much better off would those around us be if we just did what we could to serve them? Okay, I know I have no business trying to build a house or fix a car. The house would not stand and the car would be worse off after I got finished. That’s not the point. But even though I cannot do those things, I can do other things and so can most of us. It is not a matter of talent or skill, but heart. These two men did what they did because of their hearts. They left their skilled labor and went to work doing whatever needed to be done.
Think of the benefits. First, we will feel better because we helped someone. Second, they will feel better because we helped them. Third, we will be less likely to complain because we saw someone who was struggling in a way we were not. Fourth, we will have enhanced a relationship and built trust. All because we left our specialty to carry a stone or pick up a hammer…metaphorically speaking.
