Learning From NehemiahSample

Working Together

Half full or half empty?

It depends on how it got that way, right?

If you were filling a glass and stopped, then it is perhaps most accurate to say it is half full.

However, if you were drinking a full glass and drained it to the midpoint, then maybe half empty is the better descriptor. Perhaps it depends (for you) on what is in the glass.

Yes, I know—I’m overanalyzing the situation.

In this metaphor, we’re meant to simply react to the data put in front of us, and how we react reveals something about us.

Accurate?

Maybe not.

But it’s funny how we process things and can see them differently. Whether you see the glass half full or half empty doesn’t change the reality of the glass holding liquid equal to half its volume. That is the simple truth, and no amount of perspective or breaking it down changes that.

Being able to see a situation and react accordingly is not necessarily a skill we all inherently possess. Personally, I like to blame my shortcomings in this area on the Fall.

But sometimes, that tendency leads me to gloss over certain details or distort others so that things sound better (or sometimes worse) than they are.

Nehemiah doesn’t do that.

His emotions spent (see Nehemiah 1), he is now moved to action.

Nehemiah, under the call of God, puts his feet into motion and not only secures permission from the king to go to Jerusalem (no mean feat in itself) but also determines to address the situation.

He looks at the glass and says, “Woah…definitely half full! (see Nehemiah 2:17). But it’s not meant to stay that way, so let’s fix it and make it better.”

Being a “man of action” is a deep heartbeat for us. We all want to be known as men who can “take care of business.” Nehemiah sets that example before us. We see him evaluate a situation and create a plan to make it better.

But that’s not all he does.

What’s next? He knows the job is bigger than his hands can hold. So he calls others for help.

Men, we never have to walk alone. It may feel more masculine to take care of things ourselves, but knowing our limitations and being able to call in reinforcements is also a mark of masculinity.

What kind of man are you? Can you spring into action, calling for help when you need it?

Nehemiah did, and God did great things through him.

Prayer: God, sometimes it is easier to tackle things by myself. But I’m grateful that You have put me in community with other believers and that we can rely on each other. Help me accept my limitations and embrace the fact that we can do more good together than I can on my own. Amen.

Reflection: What Kingdom project are you tackling right now? Or, what project might you start tackling? Whom do you need to ask for help?