August 6

Day 145: Beneath Their Pay Grade

Nehemiah was commissioned by God to lead a rebuilding project. The walls around Jerusalem had been destroyed and had laid in burned out ruins for years. No walls meant continuing vulnerability.

Nehemiah surveyed the scope of the project, assigned sections of the wall and gates to different clans and families. And they all got to work.

There was, of course, opposition. There are always those who rejoice in any disadvantage to others. These opposers saw a threat to their own regional power and influence if the city walls repaired. Their opposition came with some firepower.

So the builders worked in shifts. 12 hours on the job, 12 hours guarding the other shift workers. And even while working their shift, the workers kept a weapon nearby. Every worker slept in their boots and work clothes, if they were afforded any sleep at all.

The workers came from all walks of life. Farmers, goldsmiths, perfumers, religious workers, even officials from nearby villages participated - perhaps seeing how necessity trumped their pay grade.

Except, as Nehemiah 3:5 tells us, "Next to them [Zadok's family] the Tekoites repaired [the next section of the wall], but their nobles would not stoop to serve their Lord.

It can be assumed these same nobles from Tekoa could easily see the benefit of the walls being repaired. They cared about their own safety, just like anyone else.

Certainly they had opinions on building materials and wall design. They likely expected to be consulted.

They just couldn't see themselves participating in the work. Manual labor was beneath them. Below their status. Below their pay grade.

Like you, I also know some folks who enjoy the benefits of other people's labors. They just don't want to participate in those labors themselves.

Respective to church life, they will hope and even expect other people to do the necessary work. And they will hope and even expect other people to finance the work. They want to consume, at no cost to themselves.

It's not hard to see the difference. Of course, everyone reading this (and writing this) will quickly regard themself as the "good person." The wise person.

Let's compare and contrast.

The wise person meets the demands of life, while the foolish person demands that life meet his/her demands.

The wise person adjusts to the truth. The fool tries to adjust the truth, so he doesn't have to adjust to the truth.

A fool will deflect responsibility from themselves on to someone else. A fool will have ready excuses for why they will not stoop down and help. A fool will get angry when asked, let alone when expected to help out.

A fool in leadership will seek and then protect title and authority. And will ignore and even abandon responsibility.

In the eyes of a fool, he/she is the wisest person around. Smart enough to reject the hard work, but still enjoy the benefits of others' labors.

At the time the nobles of Tekoa probably didn't consider how they would be remembered in the Bible centuries later. Probably wouldn't have cared if they had known.

They are still remembered, because they were not willing to stoop to serve their Lord.

Because it was beneath their pay grade.

-Mike Rydman, Lead Pastor, Radiant Church | Juneau