Nehemiah 2:17-18 (NIV)
17 Then I said to them, "You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace." 18 I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me and what the king had said to me. They replied, "Let us start rebuilding." So they began this good work.
Nehemiah had a dream. He wanted to rebuild the walls and gates of Jerusalem. No longer would his people be in disgrace if the city could be rebuilt. Ezra had led the people to rebuild the temple. Nehemiah would have to lead the people to rebuild the city. He could not do it all by himself. He must have their help even though he knew that God would be his strength.
I have seen so many people crash and burn before they would ask for help They will allow their finances to pull them into bankruptcy, their weight to shorten their lives, their addictions to control their futures or their loneliness to bring them despair. They will not ask for help even though they know they can't do it all by themselves.
I have seen people in church try to do it all. They will set out to clear the grounds, paint the fellowship hall or cook for every church dinner without asking for help. They will take on the entire church preschool without asking for another person to help them. Church will become a burden rather than a blessing. They will not be able to accomplish the things God wants of them without help. Yet, they will not ask for help.
God never intended for us to do great things all alone. Moses had to learn from his father-in-law about delegation. Delegation is a means of enlisting help. He was being worn out while he was wearing out the people who would have to stand in long lines all day long so Moses could make a judgment for them. He had to have help or he would never be able to lead God's people to the Promised Land.
The Apostles knew they needed help when the problem with the distribution of food came. They knew it would not be good for them to neglect the word or prayer in order to wait tables. They enlisted the first deacons to serve so that they could continue in what they had been called to do.
Why don't you ask for help in something that you know God wants you to do? Would you ask for help to beat an addiction? Would you ask for help to solve what appears to be an unsolvable problem?
You should . . . because trying to do it all by yourself isn't going to get you anywhere.
1 comment:
Sometimes the elimination of the need of the question is the best answer; my understanding of my true need then surfaces. Help is not necessarily neeeded , since I can do all things through Christ. Breaking down situational knowledge with rightfully dividing the truth brings me closer to the foundational struture where the greatest access to power lies and of course where the light dwells - it only appears difficult at the beginning of the journey, at that place it requires the most faith, for the road is straight and very narrow and requires diligence, perserverance and a good focus on Christ. Simplicity is always best, for it helps one stay focused on the objective. In spirit simple is always stronger until one gets all virtues needed balanced.
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