5The next section was repaired by the men of Tekoa, but their nobles would not put their shoulders to the work under their supervisors.
In this chapter which outlines who repaired what part of the wall around Jerusalem, these are the only people mentioned who were not willing to help. I guess they thought they were too good to do manual labor. One thing I have noticed about myself, when I am willing to jump in and lend a helping hand, no matter the task, the more fulfilled I feel in the task. There is must something about being involved in a task larger than life. Rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem was just such a task. Nehemiah, who worked for King Artaxerxes as a trusted advisor, asked for and received a leave of absence to go and rebuild the wall. He left a comfortable
position in his world and took on the task of manual labor. In doing so, he demonstrated the greatest kind of leadership, servant leadership. My political views differ greatly from a former President who went from peanut farming to the Presidency, but I do admire his willingness to serve. He was the leader of the free world, and when he left office he found ways to be himself again. He is responsible for building houses for the poor around the world. He gets in and swings a hammer. An environmental activist former Vice President is very much a contrast. He left office and felt entitled to every privilege and honor of the office. He has become very rich by using that power for personal gain. I want to be a servant like the Habitat for Humanity builder. I don’t want to be the gas-guzzling SUV, private jet playboy VP. Setting up chairs and sweeping floors are not beneath me. I want to do whatever it takes to accomplish the task at hand. I may be a former senior pastor, but I have never lost the ability to serve. How about you? Are you able to serve in things that are “beneath” you?
The Arnold Journey 