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“So built we the wall…for the people had a mind to work” (Nehemiah 4:6).
This was a difficult time in Israel’s history, for Israel had been carried into captivity about 150 years before. Later the Babylonians had destroyed Jerusalem, broken down the wall, set fire to the buildings, and carried away all the wealth. But there were some who had been allowed to come back after being in captivity for 70 years, and they had rebuilt the temple. Some years later Nehemiah was concerned that the wall of Jerusalem was still broken down. He encouraged the people to rebuild it, and we find in our verse today that the work was done because “the people had a mind to work.” Of course they looked to the Lord for protection and help, but they themselves took their responsibility seriously too. As a result the wall was finished, although there were enemies who wanted to stop the work.
This is a good lesson for us too, in both natural and spiritual things. Sadly, there are young people today who do not seem to want to work, even in a natural way. Instead of pursuing their studies or obtaining a job, they tend to drift around, with no real goal before them. This attitude can spill over into our spiritual life too, for if we are lazy in natural things, we will not be diligent in spiritual things either. In the Bible, when God wanted to use someone to serve Him, He picked busy people, not those who were sitting around, and not working.
It is easy to become discouraged in these last days, when the world is in disorder, and when the circumstances around us seem to be turned upside down. It was like that in Nehemiah’s day, but the people felt the call of God, and “had a mind to work.” Let us imitate them!
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