One of my constant struggles in ministry and life is to finish something I have started. I have many books in my bookshelves that are only partially read. I have more than a few sermons “almost” done. The more I talk about this, the more I am finding this problem is not exclusive to me. Most of us have a much easier time getting started than finishing. Finishing what we start is always important, but it is most important to finish the tasks God has given us. However, when we do God’s work and see our vision coming to life, opposition and criticism begin to build in many cases.
Nehemiah’s Opposition
Nehemiah faced opposition. He had begun the reconstruction of the walls. Things were going well and that became a threat to his foes. Those men had one priority—they wanted to keep the Jews weak. If Jerusalem became strong, it would endanger the balance of power in the region and it would rob Sanballat and his friends of influence and wealth. As governor of Samaria he had great power. The fact that the Jews would rebuild without him was infuriating. He was losing control and he didn’t like it.
Finish the Task
Ralph W. Emerson said, “Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong.”Nehemiah could have given up. When people started opposing him with rumors, resistance, and ridicule he had the option to give up, leave the wall and go fight, or build the wall and arm himself defensively. What did Nehemiah choose? Nehemiah 4:6 says, “So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart.”By responding this way, Nehemiah avoided a common mistake people make when criticized. He didn’t allow his enemies to become the focus of the attention. He defended himself, but he remained vision-centered in spite of the criticism his team received. |L
Matthew Sullivan is the preaching minister at Shoals Christian Church in Shoals, Indiana and also teaches at Louisville Bible College. He and his wife Tina have two sons.
