Nehemiah 3:1-14

Today’s devotion reading includes a detailed list of all the individuals that helped with the rebuilding project. It gives an in-depth overview of how each group of people were given the responsibility of a specific task within the entire project. It would seem that each group of people that were given these different responsibilities are specifically gifted with talents and abilities to carry out these projects. 

If you go into my office at church, there is a plaque with a short quote. This plaque was on the resolute desk of President Ronald Reagan who many that worked with him referred to as the “Great Communicator and the Great Delegator”. He was a master of both vision and delegation. He stuck firmly to a small number of specific goals then delegated all the implementation to reach those goals to a specific group of people known as his presidential cabinet. It is a very different type of administration compared to his predecessor Jimmy Carter who was known for his hard work yet micro-managing type of administration. The quote on the plaque reads “There is no limit to what a man can do or where he can go if he doesn’t mind who gets the credit.” 

This is an area in my life that I must grow continually in. To be honest, it is one of my weakest areas as a leader. I am not good at delegating responsibilities because of my pride. I have a tendency to fall back to my prideful attitude that the only person that accomplish this specific task precisely is me. This is the wrong attitude to have and certainly not an attitude that pleases the Lord. I can’t do everything, that is why we have the church. That is why we have House Church. There are many individuals that have specific talents and abilities and in order for us to accomplish the main vision to build up the church, it requires all hands on deck. 

At the same time, it is reminder to all of us. When we are asked to use our gifts and abilities for the Lord in the church – we should feel compelled to volunteer and serve. Too many times, there is an attitude of anxiety where we don’t think we can do it right or we don’t deserve to serve. This is an attitude of pride also. The Lord commands us to serve His Kingdom and the church. If we are refusing to do so, we are technically disobedient to what God has called us to do. 

Proverbs 4

We must attain wisdom, seek wisdom, love wisdom, and cherish it from the depths of our heart. When we consistently seek wisdom, it will protect us with the decisions we make in our lives. AC Green of Los Angeles Lakers once said “We all have the power of choice but once we exercise that power of choice, it has power over us.” This is important where the author of Proverbs writes in verse 5-6, “Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them. Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you.” The beginning of wisdom comes from fearing the Lord.

We must guard our heart because out of the abundance of the heart is where all of our thoughts, words, and decisions come from. It says in verse 23, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” 

We must be careful in the paths that we take, be slow in the decisions we make. It says in verse 26, “Give careful thought to the paths for your feed and be steadfast in all your ways.”