How to do God’s work successfully (Neh 2:11-20)
Neh 2:11-20
As numbers in most Western churches are dwindling, many ask what the church needs to do to attract more people and thrive. Some look to different projects, to community outreaches, vibrant worship, activities for the kids, entertaining and relevant sermons and so on. However, the question is fundamentally flawed because it focuses on our aims. If we define a successful church as one that grows in numbers and is lively, then our answers will involve strategies to fulfil those goals, whereas what we should be asking is what God’s purpose is with the church and how it can be achieved.
God’s purposes
Nehemiah understood this well. He was conscious that it was God who had put plans into his mind (Neh 2:12), no doubt during his long months of prayer. Like Paul, who did not consult with ‘flesh and blood’ (i.e. other people; Gal 1:15-17), Nehemiah’s similar comment underlines that this is not simply a human project dreamed up with others, but truly one that the Lord initiated.
Secrecy in assessing the scope of the work was, of course, necessary because of opposition (Neh 2:10, 12). Nehemiah’s night route is likely a semi-circle around the southern part of the city (known as the city of David; Neh 2:13-15).[1] Since no further landmarks are mentioned beyond the King’s Pool, he probably retraced his steps rather than did a full loop of the city. Perhaps the walls around the public area of the temple further north could be assessed unobtrusively in daylight, or the terraced southern part was more damaged.
Right motivation
If this was God’s project, it was also important to do His work for the right reasons. Nehemiah could have been concerned about the walls out of pride for his city, for security, or for political benefits, but as he gathers the leadership of Judah around him, he focuses on the issue of ‘reproach’ (Neh 2:17). God told Israel many times that if they disobeyed Him, He would make them a reproach in exile, i.e. a disgrace and an object of mockery among the nations (e.g. Jer 24:9; Ezek 22:4). At the same time, such scorn for God’s people was also a mockery of Him and of His power to save (Ps 79:4, 12; Isa 37:21-23). Since the Lord has forgiven and returned them from exile, leaving the city walls in ruin would damage their testimony among the peoples as if they were still in disgrace, or God had no power to restore them.
Nehemiah is not only motivated by godly considerations, but also identifies with the people in their distress (note the ‘we’ in v.17). He testifies to God’s support of the project in the way his return came about, and the people’s response is overwhelmingly positive (Neh 2:18).
Standing firm in the face of opposition
Finally, it should not surprise us that there is opposition to God’s work. The troublesome trio, who will keep re-appearing in the story, accuse the exiles of rebellion, as before (Ezra 4:15-16; Neh 2:19). Nehemiah’s confident answer surely arises from his conviction that he is doing God’s work with the right heart and so the Lord will give his group success (Neh 2:20).
Examining ourselves
No one passage can answer a question like I posed at the beginning of this post. Nevertheless, Nehemiah’s story teaches us that our priorities need to be reversed. ‘Success’ in ministry is the by-product of doing God’s work for God’s glory. We are challenged to examine our hearts, whether we are in full-time ministry or contributing to the life of the church in various ways. Do we do God’s work or follow our own agenda? Jesus talked about seeing the Father working and participating in that work (John 5:19). Do we do the right thing for the wrong reasons, serving God because we are starved for appreciation, lonely and hoping to have closer connections with fellow workers or wanting to prove our worth to others or ourselves? As sinful people, none of us are entirely immune from wrong motives but we have a God who can cleanse our hearts. This matters because opposition and obstacles will occur, and we can only face them with the calm assurance of Nehemiah if we know that the Lord is our support who enables us to succeed.
[1] The location of the Dragon’s Well or Dragon’s Eye is uncertain; it may have been a spring now dried up or a historic landmark. The King’s Pool was probably near the Fountain Gate. A pool from later times was excavated near that gate, but it is likely that there was a pool there earlier, given that it was fed by an older water system. H.G.M. Williamson, Ezra, Nehemiah, WBC 16 (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1985), 189-90.
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