2 Initiative
Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might… Eccl 9:10
Isn’t it interesting the examples in scripture of the Christian life? We see the soldier preparing for battle, the farmer planting his fields, the shepherd caring for his sheep, and the True Vine and vineyard. All of these examples take work, lots of work over a lot of time. None of these examples are “get rich quick” in the Christian life schemes. None of these are couch potato Christianity. The Christian life takes work and God expects the Christian to be busy, not only on the spiritual side of things, but to be busy in life and providing as well.
Initiative: A biblical example
Nehemiah was a man greatly used by God and from the account in the Scriptures, we see a man that was used by God because of his character. Nehemiah showed great initiative in his desire and attitude in attempting a job that God dropped in his lap.
We find Nehemiah working the in palace of the King of Assyria. Nehemiah is Jewish, but due to the invasion by Babylon and the insuing capture of many of the Israelites, Nehemiah had no doubt grown up in slavery, perhaps even being born into it. As his story begins, we see Nehemiah working as the cup bearer for the King. This is a job of great importance with much trust and confidence being placed upon him.
Nehemiah finds out from some eye witnesses that Jerusalem, his home city and the holy city, is in ruins with the walls falling down and the gates burnt. He is devastated by the news. He is so upset, that it reflects on his countenance the next time he is in the palace before the king. Scripture tells us that this is not the next day; it appears to be up to a month later. Yet, this devastating news is still heavy upon his heart. The king notices the demeanor of Nehemiah and stops to ask him what is wrong.
Two key events need to be noted here. First, the king of the largest empire in the world, stopped all business to find out what his slave cup bearer had on his mind! We don’t know much about his king, but he was a man who knew and cared about his staff. I once heard a preacher say: “ Great men show their greatness to men who are not so great.” This was certainly the case here.
Secondly, the king noticed Nehemiah was upset because he had “never before been sad in the king’s presence.” What an employee to have! Here is a guy that NEVER had a bad day at work; at least, he never showed he was having a bad day if indeed he was having one. Nehemiah was always happy at work. No one ever thought that Nehemiah had rolled out of the wrong side of the bed that morning. They never tip toed around Nehemiah until he had that third cup of coffee. Nehemiah was upbeat, positive and friendly at work. The ONE day that Nehemiah was troubled and upset; the entire empire ground to halt until they found out what was wrong! Nehemiah’s attitude afforded him the opportunity to be used by God. If Nehemiah was always grumpy and miserable at work, no one would have thought twice about it.
When the King asks Nehemiah what was wrong, Nehemiah has the opportunity to explain that he cannot help himself because his hometown has been left in ruins. What happens next will show the initiative that Nehemiah possesses. The king proceeds to ask Nehemiah what he would like to do about it. Can you fully appreciate this scene? The king of the empire is asking his distraught cup bearer what he would like to do about reconstructing his hometown. Wow!
Now, we begin to truly see the depth of Nehemiah’s character. The next verse tells us: “so I prayed to the God of heaven and answered the king.” How long do you think that prayer was? Do you think Nehemiah had time to start confessing sin and getting things right with God? Do you think Nehemiah had to re-establish contact because he had not talked to God for several days? Obviously not! Nehemiah was “prayed up” long before he went to see the king. Nehemiah had kept open lines of communication with God. Nehemiah had only a moment to pray. Yet, in that moment was so much power. In that moment the Holy Spirit began to give insight and wisdom to Nehemiah that was truly and only divine.
Nehemiah quickly began to outline a plan of returning himself to Jerusalem and overseeing the remodeling project of the great city. He detailed how much time it would take and what materials he would need. He began to seek letters of passage from the king to show he was working in a government ordained capacity. Nehemiah was asking the king to allow him to oversee a major construction project with the empires blessing and the empires money. We don’t see that Nehemiah had any construction background or knowledge. How did Nehemiah know how long it would take for construction? How did he know what supplies he would need? And, how did he have the foreknowledge to get those letters of permission? How? Simple: “so I prayed to the God of heaven.” The Holy Spirit gave him the answers he needed.
Nehemiah showed Initiative! Nehemiah had a problem dropped in his lap. He didn’t just take it to prayer meeting, though he did pray about it. He didn’t just feel sorry for himself, though he was sorrowful. He found an opportunity to do something about it, and he did it! He saw an open door and he went through it! This is a recurring theme with Bible Characters that were used of God. Noah building an ark in the midst of ridicule; Aaron taking the incense from the altar out between the living and the dead; David picking up a sling to slay Goliath; Samson using the jawbone from a donkey. The list goes on. Initiative demands one to not avoid responsibility, but rather to embrace it. Initiative flies against common sense and rejects excuses. Initiative rises up in God’s power and gets things done.
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Begins with a motivating factor or emotion
How many others had seen the walls of their city broken down and the gates destroyed? How many others were moved to action, though? We don’t know of any others that took the initiative that Nehemiah took. He turned his sorrow, his anger, his emotion and turned it into action. Nehemiah could have become apathetic shortly after hearing the news of his city; but he didn’t. He began with a vision of rebuilt walls and repaired gates. The bad news was not going to depress or discourage Nehemiah but rather would be his motivating factor!
Initiative takes creativity
Initiative that stays just a thought is not initiative at all! The thought must form into a reasonable plan. We must understand the wisdom that God gave to Nehemiah as he was standing before the king answering questions about this project. I have to believe though that many of these questions were previously considered by Nehemiah before his audience before the throne. Nehemiah was forming a plan. Nehemiah was working on what materials he might need and where to get them. He was thinking ahead of obstacles he would face and permissions he would need. I am sure he knew who he wanted with him on the project and who he probably wanted to leave at home for this one. Nehemiah was planning and thinking before he rushed in. He went out at night upon his arrival and surveyed the task ahead. Projects take planning and creativity or they will never been seen through to the end.
Putting action to the thoughts
What made Nehemiah memorable and remarkable was his tenacity in seeing the project through to the end in spite of stiff opposition. People lied about them, came up to fight against them and tried to form a coalition against them. Not to mention the magnitude of the project and the difficulty of the task. Nehemiah kept working no matter the obstacle. He was not sidelined by distractions. Nehemiah put action to the planning and the motivating factor.
Without God?
…but with God, all things are possible. This was a lesson Nehemiah knew all too well. He prayed ahead of time, he prayed during the project and he gave glory to God at the conclusion of the project. Nehemiah did not do this project by Nehemiah’s strength; but rather through God and God alone!
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