Firstly, a quick recap of where we have got to in reading Nehemiah:
Nehemiah, cupbearer to the Persian King, Artaxerxes, returned to the city of Jerusalem and encouraged the Jews there to rebuild the city walls. Despite much opposition the Lord helped them to complete this in 52 days after which Nehemiah appointed rulers and took a census.
After being taught by Ezra the scribe of the ways of God the people celebrated the Feast of booths, or tabernacles, and after much praise and confession many pledged in writing that they would follow God and keep his laws.
This chapter - chapter 11 - lists the people who were allocated by lot to live in Jerusalem - the rulers, the priests, the Levites, the temple porters (or doorkeepers), the singers - and broadly mentions the families who settled in surrounding villages and cities.
('lot' refers to a process of randomly selecting people)
It seems that during the process of casting lots to allocate who was to live at Jerusalem there were some that 'willingly offered themselves' to live there (verse 2). These 'volunteers' were 'blessed' by the other people for doing so.
As I read this I felt uncomfortable. I was never one of those children at school whose hand would shoot up when the teacher wanted volunteers. As an adult I have never been very quick to put myself forward when in a group of people...are you like this, or are you always quick to volunteer? Would you, like these Jews willingly offer to move house with all the inconvenience associated with it? Do you throw your house open to welcome people, and generously give of what you have to help? Or are you like me, shy of putting yourself forward, head down and focused on what you need to get done in your own little life, and perhaps thinking 'that somebody else will offer'?
Of course, it depends on the circumstances of whether to volunteer, it depends on our God given priorities and whether it is an appropriate use of our time etc. But for me, this volunteering speaks to me, and ties in with the 'grace of giving' which we thought about a couple of weeks ago.
We are told to be hospitable - 'Be not forgetful to entertain strangers' (Hebrews 13:2), and those aspiring to be bishops should be 'given to hospitality' (1 Timothy 3:2).
Jesus commanded us to 'love one another' as he has loved us (John 15: 13) - his love was a whole life of living for others and giving himself sacrificially in death.
He told us to go the extra mile, 'whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain' (Matthew 5:42). He gave the example of the Good Samaritan, who did all he could for one who would have despised him. We have the record of Dorcas, 'a woman full of good works' who, on dying was much mourned and evidence of all her love in the clothes she had made for others shown to the Apostle Peter (Acts 9: 37-41).
These examples all display to me the sort of attitude one has who 'willingly offers' themselves - a sacrificial 'thinking of others' love.
What holds us back from being like this? You know how you feel when a situation for volunteering arise. For me, it is fear. Fear of being in the forefront, fear of intruding, fear of using up my energy and having none left to do my own jobs (something I have frequently experienced due to health issues), or fear of being taken advantage of.
John writes that 'there is no fear in love' (1 John 4:18). When we truly live in Christ his spirit produces the fruit of love to others and subdues the fear. When we completely look to Jesus and listen for his voice, we stop thinking about what others might think. But at those times when we don't feel the spirit within us, perhaps we should discipline ourselves to prayerfully offer willingly. To ask the Lord to open our eyes to opportunities in which we should help, to work in our hearts to give us more love to others, and the wisdom needed.
Missionaries have been criticised for giving their lives to the spiritual good of others but neglecting their own children, who might have been sent to boarding schools or left in the care of others. I remember reading of a woman who spent all day producing a wonderful meal for a sick family at church, and on the way to delivering it her own children asked what they were having for dinner that night - she hadn't prepared anything! From then on she made sure that if she prepared a meal for another family she made sure she did the same for her own whilst making it.
The Apostle Paul advises that when we have a 'willing mind' we should give according to what we have, so that there is an equality - that out of our abundance we give to those in need, and not that consequently others are 'eased, and ye burdened' (2 Corinthians 8: 12-14). How we need to pray for wisdom to get this balance right and yet to be living in the spirit of love!
The application here for me is that an attitude of giving and thinking of others is to be nurtured. As we look more to the Lord Jesus and his sacrificial life, to become more like him that we may be a blessing to others. Perhaps we are not often in situations where an actual 'volunteer' is needed, but there will be opportunities when we can do good to those around us.
Rather than being like those that wish somebody in need well but don't actually do anything to help them (James 2:15, 16), my prayer today is for the Lord to open our eyes to the needs of others, and to give us a spirit of love and willingness to help them, in the way which he has equipped us to give - so some might be able to give financial help, others might be able to give time, help with jobs, meal preparation, or others less physically able might be able to give words of encouragement and listening, or private prayer on their behalf. Let us look to the Lord to give us guidance and strength and uphold us in those things which he will have us to willingly do for others.
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