Why the waste?
Nehemiah 2:3 And said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire?
Nehemiah sees that there is a waste. The place of his fathers’ sepulchers lieth waste. Note that Nehemiah has nothing to gain from this observation … unlike Judas who was a thief and complained about wastage in the outpoured oil from a broken alabaster jar. There is a waste that is glorious and praises God … but there is an attack on waste that seeks to repair and to expand the kingdom. The difference is in whether the burden is motivated by selfish interest or by an interest in the Kingdom. Nehemiah was motivated by the need to see God’s kingdom and agenda prosper. He had no thought to benefit.
Mar 14:3 And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head. 4 And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made? 5 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her. 6 And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me.
How do you see the affairs of the kingdom and the matters of God. Are you driven by self or by God? Are your gains selfish and personal or will God be glorified when the total picture eventually comes to light.
Note again, it was the king that provoked the issue …unlike in the case of some who saw the wasted ointment. Wait on God for the timing of the realization of your vision. Going ahead is evidence that the agenda is yours and not of God. Wait for God to give you a sure sign that it is time to move … you will find that God understands that you do not trust your flesh and you need divine illumination and a spiritual nudging that you will not miss. Nehemiah spoke up because he was sad … a sadness beyond his control …and when asked why …he also gave the answer. God is in control of the agenda …He uses the heathen king to commence the next phase in what He wants to do. What a mighty God we serve.
Verses for further meditation
Psalm 37:5; Proverbs 16:3
Thoughts for Business and the work place
In order to commit others, you must first commit yourself.
Suggestions for Prayer
O Lord, teach me to wait on you …but also not to be absent from your ordained place in the day your vision is favored for action. Amen
As Nehemiah’s wall was built- so will we see a reconstruction in all that may appear in distress and in waste. Nehemiah trusted and feared God, putting his faith in the Almighty whose strength is limitless to exceed all our expectations. Look out for Nehemiah’s Wall from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015 and do invite friends to subscribe to the free email or social media posts.
I am praying someone with a burden to be used by God in building will receive a fresh vision and get the job done.
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Recessionproofchristianlife.com is a privately owned blog/media site started in 2009 as the internet ministry of the author. It promotes the absolute authority and divine inspiration of the Holy Bible as the Word of God – Infallible and Sufficient
