Building a tree house sounds like fun until you actually have to do it. Perhaps you have had it in your mind—or your children have had it in their minds—to build a fort that they can call their own. You could always buy one that is pre-built, but you want the challenge of building one yourself. Just think, also, of the quality time spent with your children as you build it together! Most of these projects start with admirable intentions, but after the first couple of days, you may wonder where the phone number or website is, to have that pre-built one delivered to your backyard.
We sometimes forget that anything worth doing will take hard work. History itself teaches us that every bridge, every highway, every building, and every monument that was ever built took a lot of hard work to be completed. Many men in the Bible had to roll up their sleeves to accomplish what God desired for them to do, but likely no one understood it as well as Nehemiah. He is an example of someone who went to work during a very difficult time when hard work was very much needed.
Nehemiah served as the cupbearer to King Artaxerxes. Nehemiah received word of the ruined state of Jerusalem, his hometown. This news brought him to tears, since his beloved home was in great distress and disarray. Deep within him, God was placing a burden to go help rebuild the city. With this heavy heart, Nehemiah continued to fulfill his duties to the king. One day, the king noticed Nehemiah’s face and attitude were different than normal. His sadness was being seen and heard, loud and clear, so much so that the king asked about it. Nehemiah shared his burden with the king and asked if he could be permitted to go and do the work God had called him to do. The king granted Nehemiah’s request and also gave him the necessary materials to get the job done. When Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem, he saw that all he had been told was true. The city was in great disrepair, but it was not impossible to rebuild it. Over several days and nights, Nehemiah and his friends toured the city and took note of everything that needed to be done. Even before they began, those who did not want this project to begin caused some trouble. Despite the opposition and the heavy workload, God had placed a vision in Nehemiah’s heart and mind, and he would let nothing stop it from happening. Fifty-two days later, the walls of the city were complete!
Hard work is something that most of us do not like. Many times in our lives, we try everything to get out of it. Many modern conveniences have been invented to eliminate the need to work as hard as before. Even as we struggle with trying to make things easier for ourselves to do, we must come to the realization that God’s plan for every man is work. Many may think that before the sin of Adam and Eve there was no need for anyone to work. Yet Genesis 2:15 says, “And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.” God directly gave Adam a job to do. He was to dress and keep the garden. In today’s culture, our children must realize that God’s plan for us is work. It may be that for some it is to learn a trade or a skill before work can be done. Some may have jobs around the house: cleaning the bedroom, washing the dishes, or taking out the trash. Some work outside the home: Mom’s and Dad’s jobs, a paper route, or mowing a neighbor’s lawn. No matter what our responsibility, it is our duty to do the work God has set before us.
MEMORY VERSE
“He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.” Proverbs 18:9