Day 10
And next
to them the Tekoites repaired, but their nobles would not stoop to serve the
Lord.
Nehemiah
3:5
Every
once in a while, you will come across someone who simply thinks they are a
little too good for some tasks – maybe it is because of the education level
they have obtained, or the position they hold, or because of the length of
their tenure. Whatever the case, they simply will not stoop to do certain
things.
This
is exactly what Nehemiah was dealing with. People had come from all around,
both from within Jerusalem and from without, to help rebuild the wall. The Jews
understood that this wall represented both security and the God they served.
For the most part, people were all in. However, there were some who felt that
the manual labor, that the daily grind, that the dirty work, was beneath them.
Unfortunately,
you will encounter this same attitude in ministry today. Jesus has said, “But
whoever would be great among you must be your servant” (Matthew 20:26, ESV). He
also said, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all”
(Mark 9:35, ESV). The idea of a servant leader has completely been lost on
some. We, like the Tekoite nobles, are sometimes guilty of attitude that will
not “stoop to serve the Lord.”
As
we live our lives, and certainly as we are given opportunity to lead, let us be
careful to maintain the attitude of a servant. Let us remember that we
are never to good to serve the Lord, even if it means getting our hands dirty.
The
truth is, this fact reaches much further that just “church work.” Anyone in a
leadership position would do well to demonstrate the attitude of a servant. Being
willing to “stoop” just might revolutionize your life and leadership.
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