Thursday, March 14, 2013

Promotions involve Projects


Scripture: Nehemiah 5:17-18
Moreover, there were at my table one hundred and fifty Jews and officials, besides those who came to us from the nations that were around us. Now that which was prepared for each day was one ox and six choice sheep, also birds were prepared for me; and once in ten days all sorts of wine were furnished in abundance. Yet for all this I did not demand the governor's food allowance, because the servitude was heavy on this people.

Insights: The third major concern Nehemiah faced was the projects involved in his promotion.  We already learned yesterday from verse sixteen that Nehemiah’s passion was the wall of Jerusalem.  He knew God had assigned him the project of completing that wall.  It was not just a wall for the people.  It was a sign of God’s protective and providential hand on the life of Israel.  As we mentioned on the day we spoke about privileges, however, more responsibility was assigned to Nehemiah.  In other words, not only did he have his project of the wall to accomplish, but as governor he would have special interest groups bombarding him on a regular basis.  Once again, we see Scripture communicating the truth regarding the vast responsibilities people faced in ancient days that are no different from today.  Every day Nehemiah had 150 Jewish officials and other national ambassadors coming to him for political favors regarding their projects.  So, the question we have to ask ourselves is, how did Nehemiah take care of his daily responsibilities as governor and all of these extraneous projects and maintain focus on what he knew he was really called to do, which obviously was to finish the wall?  He learned to priorities his days.  I don’t know how this luncheon was run, but this was a business luncheon.  He did not invite these people every day just to partake of ox, sheep and birds.  It was the most efficient manner in which Nehemiah found to deal with the daily projects of other people that came with his promotion.  Before this meal and after it Nehemiah was free to focus on what truly mattered, the wall.  Beloved, we need to learn to be shrewd time managers in our lives.  We need to make certain we are making first things first and not get ourselves consumed by all the other projects that come on us with promotions and life.  The best way we are able to stay focused is to ask the Father every day to direct our paths and to seek His guidance each morning as to what is most important and then stay true to that project.

Questions:
  1. What project is God assigning you to do for Him?
  2. How well are you balancing your project for God and your daily responsibilities?
Prayer: Lord, strengthen me and help me to remain focused on the project You have assigned me to do.  I desire for my life to bring You glory. Amen.

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