Thought for the Week

Scriptures to Read:

Nehemiah 4:7-22

II Thessalonians 3: 6-13

Hebrews 3:9-11

Ephesians 4:25-28

Philippians 2:14-18

St. John 6:26-27

St. Matthew 11:28-30

We celebrate "Labor Day." For many of us it is simply a day off from work. But I think it should be more. I know it is a secular holiday, not a spiritual one. Still, I think we can give it a higher purpose.

I am thinking about the work of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem in the days of Nehemiah the Prophet of God. The first thing I see is there was opposition to the work they were doing. Enemies did not want that wall to be rebuilt. So, Nehemiah had to find a way to guard his work and his workers. In Chapter 4 he proposes a solution and adds to that solution as well. He proposes the workers cooperate. Some would stand guard, while others worked. But there also came a time when workmen needed to work while armed for battle.

Nehemiah also has watchmen stationed along with those who carried a trumpet. The watchmen would look out for those who would come with intent to destroy. The watchman watched. When he saw trouble coming, the trumpeter gave the signal and other workmen quickly came to fend off the enemies. I trust we all want to work to accomplish something good. We look around and can note there are those who seem intent on destroying whatever good is being done. Perhaps your goal is simply earning a living but there are those who would steal away your living if they could.

Perhaps you are raising children and your goal is to have them become the best persons possible. There are those who would undermine your efforts and get your children to do things that would be destructive to them. Whatever your long-range goals I hope you want to accomplish something good: something that would benefit others even while benefitting you.

I hope you are thinking about setting a good example for other workmen, for your children, and for others watching you work. I don't expect you intend to be a burden to society so you will want to "carry your own weight," and be a benefit to those around you as well. I believe you and I should set high-standard-goals.I am reminded of a story: a man came to a construction site. He asked the first worker what he was doing. The man simply replied, "I am laying stone." He asked a second man. The reply, "I am building a wall." The third reply was so much better, "I am helping to construct a beautiful cathedral to the glory of God and to help people worship with joy." Certainly there was nothing wrong with the first two replies. But the third man had a much greater goal and understood that while his role my not have been everything, his purpose was not simple but lofty.

Can you see your work with those eyes? A woman can simply be a mother, or she can see herself as raising children who will one day be part of building a better world. Never sell yourself short. Know that God calls, equips, and assigns people to certain roles. We may not be able to see the whole picture as God sees it. But we can trust that no matter what He calls, equips, and assigns us to do can be for His ultimate glory. He knows the plans He has for us. Even if we don't see the whole picture, we can be sure there is rest for the laborer and reward for the faithful worker. Little can most certainly become much when God is in it. Nehemiah and his men had much to celebrate at the end.