Setting Our Minds To Work
The most important work in which we'll ever be engaged is the work of Christ, His church, and spreading His message to a lost and dying world. Nehemiah was a great and visionary leader who knew that in order for important work to be done it would require a serious and sober mindset. In reference to the important work of their day (rebuilding the Jerusalem wall), Nehemiah wrote, "So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work" (Nehemiah 4:6). From this one statement, we learn what aided them in their success and also what will aid us.
First, important work like teaching the lost requires our mutual involvement. Nehemiah didn't say he did the work nor did he say they did the work. Great leaders are known for inspiring others in large part by their own examples. This was certainly the case with this impassioned, dedicated man of God. We must each be concerned with the church, its future, and our work in building each other up and bringing others to Christ. There is nothing more vital or more pressing than this work. Setting our minds to work means that we should emulate the example of the Jews in Nehemiah's time who decided to all get involved and work for the great cause before them.
Second, Nehemiah reinforced a fact that we all need to be reminded of: Anything that is worthwhile requires hard work. The single word 'built' tells us that those who surrounded Jerusalem to restore the great wall were willing to sweat and bleed in the hot sun of the day so that the wall could be constructed. In the absence of advanced machinery, those who built the wall knew first hand that work was involved. The church can't grow unless we are also willing to sacrifice ourselves, lose some sleep, and utilize our strength for the greater good.
Thirdly, minds that are concerned with working lead us to join together and work side-by-side. Nehemiah paints a beautiful picture of teamwork both in this passage and elsewhere in his writings. No one person or one family built the wall. Each of them joined together and worked together. These men clearly knew that in order to be successful, they had to view their work through the lens of teamwork and not see themselves as individuals doing their own things. In bringing others to Christ, we're all involved and all concerned about the same thing. Let's make sure that our minds are set for that great work and in doing so, look forward to the successes that come thereby and the glory that it provides our God.