In Nehemiah chapter three, we see two more things that need to be said about Nehemiah’s relationship to his work. First, he coordinated the effort. He not only divided the task into manageable units and then assigned the right people to each part but also fit the whole together so there were no gaps and so each picked up where the other ones left off. We see this in the frequently repeated phrase “and next to them,” [some translations “the adjoining section,” or “the next section”].
Not only did Nehemiah coordinate the work so that no gaps were left and all worked closely to one another, but he also seems to have arranged the work in part for the convenience and motivation of the workers. Many were assigned to (or chose) portions of the wall in front of or directly adjacent to their houses – the priests rebuilding the area near the temple (vv.1, 28), the temple servants the area near their dwelling on the temple mount (v.26), Jedaiah the portion of the wall “opposite his house” (v.10), Benjamin and Hasshub the portion of the wall “opposite their house” (v.23), and so on. This would be convenient for all, since no time would be lost in commuting back and forth or in going home for lunch. And it would ensure good work. A person would be certain to build strong walls where his own house needed to be protected.
The best management recognizes an element of self-interest in even the best workers and on even the most altruistic projects.
The final element in Nehemiah’s work relationship is that he seems to have recognized the accomplishments of each worker. The chapter itself suggests this, since it lists many. Still, without any doubt it is only a sample of what this great leader actually did. We can be sure that as he made the rounds of the builders, he called each by name and praised him or her for what he or she was achieving. Besides, Nehemiah would have written it down (there is a list of people who returned from the exile in ch.7 and other important lists in chs.10-12). Somewhere there would have been a record of each one’s contribution.
All but one! Have you noticed that in this long list of names Nehemiah’s own name is not listed? He was as active as anyone, of course, even more so. We can be sure of that. But when it came to giving credit, he did not say, as Nebuchadnezzar, who had conquered Jerusalem more than 140 years earlier, said when looking out over his own city, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?” (Da.4.30). Nebuchadnezzar took glory for himself and was judged for it. By contrast, Nehemiah gave credit to others, listing what each had been assigned and what each had built. Then, when it was all over, he gave the ultimate glory to God, as he had done from the beginning. “This work had been done with the help of our God,” was his conclusion (Ne.6.16). We find here a pattern to emulate by those who desire to strive for excellence in leadership, the completion of worthy goals, and the glory of God.
Maranatha!
(mar-uh-nath-uh – “Our Lord Comes”)
Pastor Steve can be reached at PastorSteve@MaranathaBibleChurch.org