He earnestly repaired

Nehemiah 3:20

After him Baruch the son of Zabbai earnestly repaired the other piece, from the turning of the wall unto the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest.

The wonderful thing about the book of Nehemiah is the way in which all the people worked together to accomplish the work of God. God had put in Nehemiah’s heart a desire to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem that had been broken down. And when he shared this vision with the leaders and all the people in Jerusalem, they were quick to rise up and build. They strengthened their hands for this good work! They had oneness of spirit and heart. They were of one purpose, and had the willingness to work. They wanted to see the wall rebuilt and the city of God restored! And what a collaboration and joint effort took place! As soon as Nehemiah had shared his desire to build, the people stood behind him and followed. And they put their hands to the work.

The second chapter of Nehemiah tells us who repaired what of the wall of Jerusalem. And it is striking to see the great diversity and variety of people who participated in the work. There were priests and Levites who worked on the wall. There were goldsmiths and merchants. There were, no doubt, common people and residents of the city. There were leaders of the people getting out the hammer and the saw and beginning to build this wall. All people of all types came together for one effort. And is this not always the way God works? Does He not bring people of varied and diverse backgrounds together to accomplish His work, and furthermore, each person has a unique and specialized job? Each one had a responsibility in the work. No one was exempt. No one stood on the outside looking in. They all participated.

Now, this is the same way that the body of Christ operates. Does not Paul tell us that each of us are members in particular? Some for one thing and some for another. Those that seem more important are not more important than the others. For without the unseen parts working properly, the visible parts would be out of order. You see, my fiends, we must all work! Do you want your church to be built? Do you want your nation to be rebuilt to its former state of glory? Do you want God’s work to be accomplished in this world? It will happen through our faithfulness to the work! Look not at others and say, “And what shall this man do?” No! Look to yourselves that you lose none of those things which you have wrought. Labor in the work to which the Lord has called you. And if we will all be faithful, and earnestly repair that which we are to repair, the whole wall will eventually be built! And what a glorious day it will be when we see the fruit of our hard labor!

“Dear Father, help us all individually and thus collectively to do our part in the work of God. Let us not be concerned with whether or not others are doing their part. For that is theirs, and not ours! Help us to labor faithfully and diligently in that which You have given us to do. May we repair earnestly as Baruch did! And as we work together, all of us from our different backgrounds and personalities, we shall see God’s work progressed and prospered. Oh Lord, may we rise up and build! In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.”