Session 6: The Work

Session Overview

Creedal Statement

We prize the family as a bedrock of faith formation,
we cherish marriage as a most holy and most sacred union,
we value parents as frontline shepherds to disciple their children,
we treasure friends as our own souls,
we engage society as godly citizens with redemptive purpose, and
we embrace our lifework with a God-centered focus.

We confess the church as Christ’s family, a family called to:
treat other members with genuine care,
steward our possessions for the common good,
honor appointed leaders and participate in Christ’s worldwide body,
engage the domains of the world with the truth of the gospel, and
represent Christ to all those who are far and near.

Key Elements

• Key Passage - Nehemiah 1:1–7:4
• Scripture Memory - For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life. Ephesians 2:10
• Catechism - Q: What is the work God has for us during our lives? A: Vocation.

Introduction

He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing good with his own hands, that he may have something to share with the one in need.

Now the only way to do this, is for people to consider their trade as something that they are obliged to devote to the glory of God, something that they are to do only in such a manner as that they may make it a duty to Him. Nothing can be right in business, that is not under these rules … All Christians are to live wholly unto God in every state and condition, doing the work of their common calling in such a manner, and for such ends, as to make it a part of their devotion or service to God.

Humans build bonds of human relationships in the trenches of their work. Over the course of this study, we have explored important relationships in various spheres of life: family, marriage, parenting, friendship, and society. Another important domain of interpersonal relationships involves our place of work and employment. In our vocational spheres, we interact with coworkers, employers, customers, team members, and employees. In its broadest form, work is human energy put forward to accomplish an objective, to contribute to an initiative, to participate in some endeavor, or to invest in a venture. Whether salaried or not, human work is an expression of God-given ability that contributes to society and provides sustenance for oneself and their family. God made humans to work in the world—to use skills, exert effort, employ talents, build competency, and produce creative artifacts. How we interact with others and how we go about our work is of great consequence to our faith maturity.

Although work is a God-given endowment given to humanity at the creation of the world, work is not without its challenges in a fallen and broken cosmos. When sin invaded God’s good world, work was corrupted and distorted. What was meant to be restful and rejuvenating is now painful and arduous. Rather than offering a sense of fulfillment, provision, or harmonious community, work environments in a sinful world can often be places of tension, conflict, exploitation, and dissension. The student learning in school, the manual laborer in the field, the manager of a company, and the medical professional at the clinic all feel the difficulty of work. Often, joyful moments of fulfilling work are abruptly challenged by strain and struggle. Work itself can feel taxing, irrelevant, or backbreaking. The relationships in our places of work can undergo stress and quarrels. Despite the myriad challenges, believers in Christ can come to view work—even a most unideal vocational situation—with eyes of faith.

One narrative that teaches us about work is found in Nehemiah 1:1–7:4. In this first-hand account of the rebuilding of the city walls of Jerusalem, we see Nehemiah upheld as a God-fearing and faithful worker. He integrated his work and faith, aligning it to God’s purposes for his people and his world. Nehemiah went about his God-assigned work with planning and preparation. As a skillful and godly leader, he called other people to participate in the important task. The initiative to rebuild the city walls took place in a collaborative manner. Rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem was a matter of reconstituting the community of Israel. This was not an easy task. Nehemiah overcame the challenges of external opponents and the dangers of a divided community as he modeled godly work and generosity in his own life. Nehemiah’s work was disciplined, faith-filled, and devoted to God. Even though Nehemiah’s very life was threatened during his labors, God brought the task to completion and protected Nehemiah.

Throughout this story, Nehemiah exemplified a godly approach to work and vocation. As many drift aimlessly through life, Nehemiah’s life enjoins us to pursue clarity in aligning our work with God’s purposes. While many lament the very need to work, Nehemiah’s example offers a joyous and meaningful approach to our vocations. Although many face extremely challenging situations in their workplaces, Nehemiah offers hope that we can confront seemingly insurmountable challenges with God-fearing faith. Despite the materialism, competition, greed, and exploitation that can surround work, Nehemiah offers a picture of generous, gracious, and self-sacrificing labor: working in a way that benefits others in need. The vocational and interpersonal lessons in this narrative abound. While topics of work and vocation may seldom factor into conversations of the Christian faith, Nehemiah’s story emphasizes the fact that we cannot be established in our faith without becoming mature in work and our work relationships. Toward this end, we invite you to hear Nehemiah’s autobiographical account with attentive minds, eager hearts, and disciplined hands.

Biblical Interpretation: Hearing the Word

Study the Text: The Bible is God’s inspired word to his people. Christian disciples mature in the faith when they are grounded in God’s word. In this movement, you will study the basic details of the biblical text.

Observation Questions

Read (or listen to) the whole passage of Scripture. Discuss the questions below for each section of the story. Pay attention to the details of the text to recall what the passage is saying. Use the focus verses to guide your conversation.

Storycraft

Retell the story in your own words, recounting the overall flow of the narrative, the main segments of the story, and the major developments that take place.

Narrative Elements

Story Retell

Theological Dialogue: Discussing the Plot

Explore the Text: God’s word is his trustworthy and sufficient revelation to his people. We grow as Christ’s disciples by rooting our lives in God’s unchanging truth. In this movement, you will explore vital teachings of this biblical passage.

Discussion Questions

Summarize the biblical story. As a community, discuss the following questions. Be attentive to the truths taught in this text. Use the commentary on the next pages to uncover core principles this passage teaches about the Christian faith.

Biblical Commentary

Use this commentary to help you understand the meaning of the text. Refer to the infographic on the next page to think through how narratives work.

Passage Introduction

Key Idea

God calls us to live out our faith in our work and to understand our vocation in terms of the total lifework God has prepared for us.

Passage Overview

Like Nehemiah, God is calling us to align our work to God’s sovereign purposes for his people and his world. Although at first it may seem unrelated to the faith, our approach to work greatly impacts our Christian maturity. Nehemiah’s example provides a model for how to integrate our faith in our work. As his own first-hand account details, we too should come to understand our total lifework as our vocational calling. Giving ourselves to preparation and planning, we must show prudence in our vocational pursuits. Additionally, we should value collaborative and organized labor. Expecting external opposition, internal conflict, and obstacles of various sorts, we must learn to persevere and endure hardship in our vocational endeavors. Additionally, we should see our work as a means of practicing generosity and approach our management responsibilities with great care. When we align our faith and work toward God’s purposes, we put our own lives in the crosshairs of those who would conspire against us. Integrating faith and work requires a deep trust in God to bring our work to its proper completion. As you heed Nehemiah’s example, consult the following exposition to help grasp key principles of work and vocation.

Passage Outline

Lifework and Vocation

Then you will behave properly toward outsiders, without being dependent on anyone.

A servant with his hands full of tools, is an emblem of diligence. The loitering servant is a kind of thief who, though he does not steal his master’s goods, steals the time which he should have employed in his master’s service.

Introduction

God has gifted humanity the blessing of work. In the original creation, God made humans as vocational beings, purposed to care for God’s creation as royal stewards and benevolent caretakers. While sin marred our ability to fully understand and perform work as God originally designed it, the gospel redeems the way Christians approach their vocations and lifework. God is very interested in the substance of his people’s work and the manner in which they work. God outfits the church to fulfill its work in the world. Each believer has been designed for good occupations, charitable works, and meaningful work. In part, Christian maturity is measured and catalyzed by God-centered work. In order to help us mature in our faith, we will explore the story of Nehemiah and Israel rebuilding the dilapidated city walls of Jerusalem. Contained in this narrative is a wealth of truth to establish the humble and attentive believer in their approach to faith and work.

As judgment for idolatry, immorality, and injustice, God sent his people into exile. As the Assyrian empire was replaced by the Babylonians, the Persians eventually came to power. At that time, Israel’s exile was coming to an end. God used the Persian rule to restore his people to the land. After the temple had been restored by Zerubbabel (Ezra 1–6), and after Ezra the priest had returned to establish God’s people in the Law (Ezra 7–10), Nehemiah became the next major leader to help reestablish God’s people. Nehemiah’s role in Israel’s restoration exemplifies the importance of godly leadership, vocational calling, a hard-working spirit, and a persevering commitment to serve God’s purposes through his work.

The narrative of Nehemiah’s vocational journey is a first-hand account (1:1). As it relates to our understanding of work and vocation, this account has much to teach us. As cupbearer to the king, Nehemiah modeled a life of vocation that brought together his civic employment and God’s cosmic purposes for his people. In this way, Nehemiah’s example dismantles the common, but unfortunate, divide between sacred and secular work. Nehemiah’s initial work of inspecting the condition of the city and summoning the people to work shows the importance of preparation, planning, and prudence in our work. The description of the work on the wall and gates highlights the collaborative and diverse nature of work. The external opposition and internal threats to the rebuilding project give us insight into dealing with conflict, persevering through hardship, and overcoming obstacles to our work. Further, Nehemiah’s confrontation of Israel’s injustice, along with his display of sacrificial generosity, refocuses our work with an aim to bless others. Nehemiah’s appointment as governor over the land helps us think through managerial responsibilities in our work when we are put in charge of others. When we serve God’s purposes through our work, we put our own livelihood in God’s hands to bring the work to completion.

God is concerned about how we approach our work. One metric of Christian maturity involves our ability to practice our Christian faith in our places of employment. Yet God invites us to also consider the larger idea of vocation: the overall calling of our life, which includes our occupation, but also encompasses the total sum of our lifework. God has prepared work ahead of time for each believer, and as we come to realize and fulfill this lifework, we progress in our faith as disciples of Christ. Like Nehemiah, God calls us to prayerfully consider how we can align our work with God’s purposes. En route to this objective, we consider Nehemiah’s first-hand account of his own vocational journey.

God’s Hand Upon Me: Coming to a Deep Understanding of Vocational Calling

Biblical Narrative (Nehemiah 1:1–2:8)

Under Persian rule, Israel’s exile was coming to an end. At that time, Nehemiah was living and working in the Persian capital of Susa (1:1). It was during the month of Chislev (around November-December) of the twentieth year (possibly of the king’s reign, as 2:1 suggests) that one of Nehemiah’s brothers, Hanani, came to him with some men of Judah (1:1–2). Interested in the condition of his people, Nehemiah asked “about the remnant of the Jews who had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem” (1:2). They gave Nehemiah a bad report that “the remnant who survived the exile are there in the province, in great trouble and disgrace” (1:3). The reason for their trouble was the fact that “the wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are burned with fire” (1:3).

When Nehemiah heard the report of his people and the condition of the city of Jerusalem, he “sat down and wept” (1:4). His sorrow was so great that he “mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven” (1:4). Nehemiah’s prayer began by praising God’s greatness and covenant faithfulness (1:5), asking that God would hear his prayer (1:6). Nehemiah confessed sin before God: his own sin, the sin of his family, and the sin of Israel (1:6). He acknowledged that God’s people “behaved corruptly” and had “not kept the commandments, statutes, and ordinances” of the Law (1:7). While Nehemiah recognized that Israel deserved the punishment of exile (1:8), he appealed to God’s own promise to restore his people—the people God redeemed (1:10)—if they turned from their sin and followed God’s ways (1:9).

Moved to act on behalf of God’s people, Nehemiah asked for God’s help and favor: “Give Your servant success this day, I pray, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man” (1:11). Nehemiah was “the cupbearer to the king” (1:11). His request for success before “this man” likely referred to his intent to address the Persian king, Artaxerxes, on behalf of God’s people (2:1). In his petition to God, he asked God to answer on behalf of his “servants who delight to revere [God’s] name” (1:11).

Around four months passed during the twentieth year of Artaxerxes’s rule (2:1). During the month of Nisan (around March-April), Nehemiah brought wine to the king (2:1). Up to this point, Nehemiah had not shown sadness in the king’s presence (2:1). At this time, however, the king asked why Nehemiah was upset with a “sadness of the heart” (2:2). Nehemiah was “overwhelmed with fear” (2:2) at this request. Nevertheless, honoring the king’s position, Nehemiah respectfully expressed his concern: “Why should I not be sad when the city where my fathers are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?” (2:3). At this, the king asked Nehemiah what his request was (2:4). In a display of godly dependence, Nehemiah offered a prayer to God (2:4) and asked the king that he be sent back to the land to rebuild it (2:5).

The king asked about the length of his journey, and Nehemiah answered him (2:6). The king showed favor upon Nehemiah, and " pleased the king to send [Nehemiah]" (2:6). In addition to this request, Nehemiah asked if the king would give him a letter that would secure his safe passage to Judah (2:7), as well as a letter to Asaph, the king’s forest manager, so that Nehemiah could secure wood for his building project (2:8). In summary form, we learn that his project involved the building of gates, the city wall, and his house (2:8). Nehemiah testified that the king granted his request because of God’s favor: “the gracious hand of my God was upon me” (2:8).

Biblical Principles

Faith and Work in the World. As a cupbearer to the king (1:11), Nehemiah held a government position in the Persian capital of Susa (1:1). Even though he was a Jew (1:2–3), he served in the court of a foreign Persian king, Artaxerxes (1:1; 2:1). While some Israelites had already begun to return to the land, this foreign empire was the powerful regime governing the Israelite exiles (1:3). Much like Daniel and the three Hebrew youths, Nehemiah served as an Israelite exile in the court of a foreign king and was able to do so while remaining loyal to his faith. Quite literally, Nehemiah worked “in the world” yet performed his vocational duties with a distinctive faith in God. While there are some jobs so inherently sinful and evil that they cannot be reconciled with the Christian faith, Christians can approach most occupations in a way that honors God and maintains faith in Christ.

We know that Nehemiah’s faith was genuine because of his response to the sorrowful state of the Israelite returnees and the dilapidated condition of Jerusalem. Nehemiah worked in the service of a foreign king, but his faith in God informed his priorities, values, habits, and beliefs. Nehemiah held a deep reverence and esteem for God (1:5), sought the Lord in regular prayer (1:4, 6, 11; 2:4), confessed sin to God (1:6–7), depended upon God’s covenant promise (1:8–9), understood God’s redemptive work on behalf of his people (1:10), and sought God’s intervention on behalf of his people (1:11). In other words, while Nehemiah was immersed in his work as a cupbearer, he maintained a deeper concern for God’s purposes in his world and through his people. Nehemiah’s faith intersected with his work such that his worldly employment was subservient to God’s eternal agenda.

Nehemiah’s priority of God’s covenantal purposes did not cause him to neglect his occupational duties in the king’s court. Although his heart was saddened by Israel’s condition, it was nearly four months (1:1; 2:1) until the king recognized Nehemiah’s sadness (2:2). Apparently, Nehemiah had felt the sadness over Israel’s condition but continued to work diligently and undeterred in his cupbearer duties (2:1). In fact, Nehemiah’s concern before Artaxerxes was to act in a way that pleased the king (2:5; cf. 2:6, 7). Nehemiah showed great reverence and respect toward the king (2:3). Yet, when the king inquired, Nehemiah took the opportunity to share his concerns and represent his faith (2:5). Nehemiah’s faithful efforts in his work gave him favor before the king in matters related to his faith (2:6, 8). In fact, Nehemiah would leverage his position in Artaxerxes’ court to serve God’s purpose for the exiled Israelites. An example to believers in all generations, Nehemiah demonstrates that our faith and work in the world should intersect.

Respecting and Serving Human Authority. While many do not work for kings, we should learn from Nehemiah by the respectful way he interacted with authority, the diligent and eager spirit with which he went about his work, and the honorable way he sought to please his “employer,” all without compromising his faith. In fact, Nehemiah’s diligence in his work gave him a significant opportunity to represent his faith to the king. After all, while Nehemiah had respect for—and even fear of (cf. 2:2)—the king, he also realized that he was just a man (cf. 1:11). Nehemiah embraced his vocation with the understanding that God had placed the king as an authority over him, and he must be respected. Certainly, God was the ultimate authority and must be followed above all. Nevertheless, we demonstrate reverence to God by showing respect to God-appointed human authorities. It takes boldness (consider Nehemiah’s own fear before the king), patience (remember Nehemiah’s four months), and faith (recall Nehemiah’s deep concern over the sad news about Jerusalem) to fulfill our duties at work and maintain an active and vibrant faith in Christ. Like Nehemiah, underlying all of our efforts in this challenging tension is a confidence and hope to claim what faithful Nehemiah claimed: “The gracious hand of my God was upon me” (2:8).

Lifework. Nehemiah understood that his employment was only a part of his life vocation. God had made him the cupbearer of the king. However, he also realized that there was another work he was responsible for performing (1:11). So convinced was Nehemiah that he made a request of the king to rebuild Jerusalem (2:4–5) and sought his support on the project (2:7–8). Our places of employment need not be antithetical to our labor for the Lord. God calls each of us to a vocation, sometimes called a “lifework,” that encompasses our employment but also includes all of the labor (sometimes paid and sometimes unpaid) we do for the Lord. Our lifework is the total sum of our work in serving God’s purposes, building up the community of faith, and representing God in the world. Sometimes an unfortunate dichotomy exists between sacred (spiritual) and secular (worldly) work. Nehemiah is a great picture of a man who approached his employment diligently but prioritized the integrated whole of his work for the Lord—his total lifework—with exemplary faith.

For the Good Work: Getting a Clear Picture of Godly Work

Biblical Narrative (Nehemiah 2:10–3:32)

After gaining Artaxerxes’ permission, Nehemiah went on his journey and gave kingly letters “to the governors west of the Euphrates” (2:9). In addition to the royal support thus far, the king also sent his military escort with Nehemiah (2:9). Despite his officially subsidized mission, not everyone was supportive of Nehemiah’s vocational pursuit. Two individuals in particular, “Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite,” were very displeased “that someone had come to seek the well-being of the Israelites” (2:10).

After three days in Jerusalem (2:11), Nehemiah went at night with a few men to inspect the walls of the city (2:12–13). At this time, Nehemiah did not “tell anyone what … God had laid on [his] heart to do for Jerusalem” (2:12; cf. 2:16). When he inspected the condition of the city walls, he found that the walls were dilapidated, the gates had been burned, parts had fallen into disuse, and the city was in ruins (2:13–17). After his nighttime inspection, Nehemiah called for the work of rebuilding the wall to start (2:17–18). He acknowledged the bad condition of the city and summoned the people to “rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, so that we will no longer be a disgrace” (2:17). Even though they experienced taunting opposition and accusatory derision from people like Sanballat and Tobiah, God’s hand was upon them to give them success (2:19–20; cf. 2:8).

Under the leadership of Nehemiah, the people set to work to rebuild the wall in groups, gate by gate and section by section (3:1–32). The communal, organizational, and collaborative nature of this rebuilding project was impressive. The picture painted in this endeavor is of a community of various vocations earnestly investing—with the exception of some (cf. 3:5)—in one common work project. The high priest Eliashib and his priestly brothers built the Sheep Gate and “dedicated it and installed its doors” (3:1). Different groups built different sections next to them (3:2). The sons of Hassenaah worked on the Fish Gate (3:3) with others repairing different sections next to them (3:5). Joiada and Meshullam repaired the Gate of Yeshanah (3:6). Others worked on sections next to them (3:7–13). Hanun and the people of Zanaoh fixed the Valley Gate (3:13), and Malchijah restored the Dung Gate (3:14). Shallum worked on the Fountain Gate and the wall (3:15). Continuing to repair the wall and its gates section by section, the people rebuilt areas around key landmarks, buildings, houses, or towers (3:16–27). Others worked on and around the Horse Gate, East Gate, Muster Gate, and Sheep Gate (3:28–32). From vision to implementation, Nehemiah’s God-given work for the people of Israel was coming to reality.

Biblical Principles

Ingredients of Godly Work. As we saw Nehemiah’s approach to his vocation in the previous section, here we view Nehemiah’s engagement in his work. Having gained permission to return to the land, Nehemiah took time to inspect the condition of the city (2:11–16). He maintained great conviction and upright motivation in the cause to rebuild the city (2:17). Approaching the work in God’s strength (2:18, 20), he summoned the people to participate in the building project (2:18). The task of rebuilding the city was more than any one man could accomplish. But God often invites us to a lifework—the sum total of life calling that is part of something bigger than we could ever accomplish on our own. Like Nehemiah, we approach our work best with preparation, conviction, pure motivation, divine dependence, and humble collaboration.

Work as Collective, Collaborative, and Interpersonal. From the commencement of the work, we learn some further details about a Christian approach to work. The work of rehabilitating the city was referred to as repair (3:4–24, 27–32) or as a build or rebuilding (3:1–3, 13–15). The work of rebuilding the walls means that the workers were tasked with working on a (re)construction project that continued what other workers had done in earlier times. Even much of what we consider to be new work is built on the labors of others before us. Moreover, the specific work aimed to strengthen the Israelite community. The city walls offered protection to Jerusalem. Their efforts to rebuild the walls involved strengthening the community of faith. So important was this that the priests consecrated (3:1) a portion of the wall. Innovation and research stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before. Even if there is a main artisan, most projects require participation from others. Christian work is a transgenerational endeavor of faithful believers in all cultures and times. In short, godly work celebrates the collective nature of work—work in general and the work of God’s global purposes—in which each person plays a small part in a larger endeavor.

The detailed work log of 3:1–32 highlights the collaborative group effort of Nehemiah’s work. Many hands contributed to the rebuilding of the walls. People from priestly vocations, family or tribal units, and artisan guilds participated in the work. These groups would work next to each other and would work section-by-section to rebuild the wall. Many focused on the portion of the wall directly in front of their houses. While some work is more inherently collaborative than others, a vocation oriented around God’s purposes will be naturally collaborative. God does not often ask people to do his work in isolation. While we may have specific responsibilities that others do not share (as in the case when the Israelites worked section by section), our individual work connects with a greater effort that we could not achieve on our own. Godly collaborative work requires organization, appreciation for others, focus on one’s own responsibility, and wise leadership. These principles apply in any place of employment, but they definitely apply as we consider connecting our vocation to God’s purposes. In the end, collective and collaborative work is intensely interpersonal. A test of our Christian maturity is not simply the substance of our work or the diligence of our work ethic, but also the degree to which we work well with others.

Diversity of Work Aligned with God’s Purpose. In terms of the workers, we notice that there was a diverse group of laborers from all ranges of professions. Religious leaders contributed to the work: the high priest (3:1), priests (3:1, 22, 28), and temple servants (3:26, 31). Different artisans played a role: goldsmiths (3:8, 31, 32) and perfumers (3:8). Also, business leaders such as merchants (3:31, 32) and civic leaders (3:9, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19) contributed to the work. On the one hand, this diversity highlights the value of many kinds of work. On the other hand, it emphasizes that people should seek to connect their work (regardless of what it is) to God’s purposes. It takes humility to do this. The nobles of the Tekoites did not possess this humility since they “did not put their shoulders to the work under their supervisor” (3:5). Perhaps their high position made them consider the menial work of rebuilding the wall beneath them. Or maybe they considered this work a threat to their prestigious position. Either way, God calls us to humbly leverage our skills for the building up of his people and the accomplishing of his purposes in the world.

A Mind to Work: Persevering Through Fierce Opposition With Steadfast (and Wise) Endurance

Biblical Narrative (Nehemiah 4:1–23)

The people encountered opposition as they were rebuilding the wall. Angry at their project, Sanballat and Tobiah mocked and ridiculed the people (4:1–3; cf. 2:10, 19; 4:7). These opponents were “furious and filled with indignation” at their work (4:1) and jeeringly derided them (4:1–3). In prayerful faith, Nehemiah trusted God to deal justly with these adversaries (4:4–5). Persistent and hardworking, the people built the wall to about half its height (4:6) and they worked to close the gaps in the wall (4:7). Sanballat and Tobiah continued to be angry (4:7), and as the surrounding peoples saw the progress that was being made, they planned to fight against Israel to disrupt their wall-building venture (4:7–8). The Israelites prayed to God continually for protection and “posted a guard against them day and night” (4:9). The people grew burdened and discouraged with the formidable task (4:10), and their enemies threatened to kill them in order to stop the work (4:11). The people insisted on help (4:12), and Nehemiah stationed people in the open spaces of the wall, calling them to courageously fight in the strength of God (4:13–14).

The enemies did not succeed in their scheme because “God had frustrated it” (4:15), and the people returned to work. From then on, half of the people worked on the wall while half stood prepared for battle (4:16). Leaders were positioned, laborers worked armed to fight at any time, and Nehemiah had the trumpeter near him to rally the people should the need arise (4:17–20). If they needed to gather to fight, they would take confidence that “our God will fight for us” (4:20). The people continued to work, ready to fight at any time (4:21–23). During the day, while the people worked, some were armed with spears (4:21). Nehemiah also instructed for the city to be guarded in the evening (4:22). Setting an example of watchfulness, vigilance, and preparedness, Nehemiah, along with his servants and guards, kept their clothes on day and night with weapons in hand in case they were needed to arise and fight off a sudden attack (4:23).

Biblical Principles

Facing Opposition in God-Given Work. When we approach our work from a perspective of faith, we can expect opposition. Certainly, we will likely experience opposition, challenges, hardships, and obstacles in our places of employment. This is inevitable as we live in a fallen world. However, when we seek to live out our lifework (which includes our employment but is not limited to it), we can anticipate that we will be at cross-purposes with others. Many oppose God’s agenda. When we integrate our faith and work in alignment with God’s purposes, these opponents will threaten us. To work on God’s work is to make ourselves targets of attack and mistreatment. Nehemiah’s opponents expressed anger (4:1, 5, 7), mocked (4:1, 4) and despised (4:4) the Jews, and plotted threatening attacks against them (4:8, 11). In reality, their opposition to God’s people was really a provocation against God (4:5). For Christian disciples, our faithful pursuit of God’s calling in our lives will cause opposition to arise. Many will seek to disrupt our efforts in God’s work, calling us to embrace a watchful, courageous, enduring, and wise spirit.

An Enduring Spirit in Hard Work. In the face of this opposition, Nehemiah turned to God in prayerful dependence (4:4, 9) and committed the issue to God’s just judgment (4:4–5). Targeted opposition did not ultimately derail God’s people from their continued efforts in God’s work. The people displayed steadfast endurance. They built the wall until it “until all of it was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work” (4:6). Nehemiah also provided wise measures to protect the people (4:9) as they continued their work. When people grew discouraged (4:10), he stationed armed guards as a support (4:13). He later organized night guards in the city (4:22), selected portions of the workers to be armed (4:16), asked workers to wear their swords (4:18), and established a rally cry in case of a sudden attack (4:19). Moreover, he called people to not be afraid but instead to trust in the great and awesome God (4:14). He would fight for his people (4:20). These protective measures were not simply a means of securing their safety. Nehemiah organized security for the community so that they could continue in the work (4:15, 17, 19, 21). They gave themselves to the work in full commitment (4:21), being also vigilant (4:23), watchful (4:22), wise (4:16–18), and considerate of the vulnerable (4:19–20). In the face of opposition, God calls us to embrace our vocation with hard work, perseverance, wisdom, and prudence. Above all, we must take confidence in God as the one who fights for his people and accomplishes his cause in the world. These realities help us cultivate an enduring spirit when we are burdened with difficult work.

May God Shake Out: Confronting Deadly Enemies to God-Honoring Work

Biblical Narrative (Nehemiah 5:1–13)

The people of Israel not only faced external opposition but also internal threats to their work. Internal division put the community at risk as complaints arose “against their fellow Jews” (5:1). Although God’s people were the same people—“we and our children are just like our countrymen and their children” (5:5)—there was injustice being perpetrated within the community. Because of this, a “great outcry” (5:1) arose from the people. In the middle of a famine in the land, some of the Israelites had to sell their possessions, put themselves in debt, and indenture their children to survive (5:2–5).

Nehemiah was angered when he heard of this injustice (5:6). He gave the matter “serious thought” and “rebuked the nobles and officials” (5:7). Israelites were laying the burden of financial interest on their own people (5:7). Nehemiah confronted the nobles and officials for oppressing their own Jewish people (5:6–8) and called them to restore these goods to their debtors (5:9–13). Nehemiah told them that their exploitative acts were “not right” (5:9). Instead of seeking personal interest, the nobles and officials should “walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our foreign enemies” (5:9). These unjust actions put the reputation and prosperity of the whole nation at risk. Nehemiah’s own example was to lend without interest (5:10). He told the Jewish nobles and officials to release people from their debts (5:11). They agreed to “restore it” and “require nothing more from them” (5:12). Nehemiah made them promise in the presence of the priests to do as they had said (5:12). The nobles and officials agreed that ff they broke their promise, they would face God’s judgment (5:13).

Biblical Principles

Work Becoming Like Slavery. While we must approach our work with steadfast endurance, we should also beware of internal enemies who threaten the essence of God-honoring work. In the course of their labors, the Israelites arose in “a great outcry” (5:1). The difficulty of famine, the scarcity of food, and the burden of the king’s tax had caused Israelites to become indebted and enslaved to other Israelites (5:3–5). Work became a context of slavery, exploitation, and abuse. The nobles and officials of Israel were seizing the opportunity of others’ hardships to acquire their own advantage (5:7, 10). Unfortunately, work environments can become burdensome in the same way. Rather than work being a means of providing for one’s needs, the wealthy can exploit the poor, the powerful can extort the weak, and the advantaged can burden the disadvantaged. Such toxic work conditions were not part of God’s original plan for work.

Working with a Spirit of Justice, Generosity, and Care. Nehemiah confronted this glaring injustice. Personally upset by the injustice (5:6), Nehemiah took time to consider the issue (5:7) and addressed it within the community by holding an assembly (5:7–8). In contrast to the good work of rebuilding the wall (cf. 2:18), Nehemiah told those responsible for this exploitation, “What you are doing is not right” (5:9). Instead, Nehemiah had the oppressors promise before priests (5:12–13) to restore the people’s goods and release them from the burden of interest (5:10–12). When God’s people approach work in the wrong way, it can cause the surrounding world to revile God’s people in shame (5:9). Greed, materialism, and opportunism can infect our vocational endeavors. Subtly and suddenly, we can become more concerned about our own gain than the good of others. Our work should be oriented to practicing generosity, caring for the community, and blessing those in need. While God gives us work to care for our own needs and the needs of our families, we should consider our work as a means to help others as well. While enemies threaten the good of our work, we should approach work with generosity, compassion, and justice. In this way, we can go about our work and larger life vocation, walking “in the fear of our God” (5:9).

All I Have Done for This People: Recognizing the Unique Responsibility of Godly Leadership

Biblical Narrative (Nehemiah 5:14–19)

At that time, Nehemiah was appointed governor of the land for twelve years and cared for the people with great generosity (5:14–19). In a display of self-denial and self-sacrifice, neither Nehemiah nor his brothers took from the food allowance of the governor (5:14). Although former governors had placed a heavy burden of taxes on the people, Nehemiah did not do so (5:15). The “fear of God” (5:15) drove all that Nehemiah did as governor. Nehemiah and his servants also showed perseverance in the work of rebuilding the wall (5:16). Also, Nehemiah did not acquire land (5:16). Nehemiah had many people surrounding him in his governorship (5:17), and he prepared provisions at his own expense and “did not demand the food allotted to the governor” (5:18). He knew that “the burden on the people was so heavy” (5:18), and he did not want to overburden them. Unlike the exploitative Jews in the previous scene, Nehemiah did not take advantage of the people and did not avail himself of many of the benefits of being a leader. Instead, he placed the weight of generosity, simplicity, and diligence upon himself. Motivating his selfless service, Nehemiah trusted God to remember “remember [him] favorably … for all that [he had] done for this people” (5:19).

Biblical Principles

Importance of Godly Models. Nehemiah was a godly leader who modeled a godly approach to work in his own life. Nehemiah refused to use his leadership position for his advantage (5:14, 18). He did not model his leadership role after the former governors of the land (5:15). In this way, he chose not to overburden the people or lord over the people (5:15, 18). He had a healthy fear of God, which guided the way he approached his position of authority (5:15). Nehemiah showed perseverance in his work (5:16) and practiced generosity to those around him (5:17–18). Rather than seeking his own prosperity, he committed his well-being to God’s hand (5:19). God’s people—whether the ancient Israelites or contemporary believers—are well served by following Nehemiah’s example. We all need godly models of good work. In fact, following good and godly examples is one of the best ways we can grow as workers and believers. Growth in a godly work ethic is much like an apprenticeship—sitting at the feet of a respected, seasoned, competent, trustworthy, and faithful worker. To observe, absorb, and imitate godly examples is one of the best learning processes for faith and work development. Whether these examples have official positions or not, mature modeling of godly work is essentially a call to godly leadership.

Power of Godly Leadership. Nehemiah led by his life example. Nehemiah asked his people to do what he himself practiced. In this way, he led the Israelites well. Certainly, Nehemiah had been appointed as an official leader of God’s people (5:14). But Nehemiah’s character and conduct (5:15–18) validated his positional leadership. If they faithfully steward their roles like Nehemiah, those in management or supervisor positions have a significant responsibility and opportunity for influence. God is the ultimate authority, and all human authority is derived from God. Godly leaders embrace their leadership role with accountability and a healthy fear of God, knowing that they will have to give an answer to God for all of their work. How we model work in a position of leadership will greatly determine how those under us function. If we think ourselves too high and too important to get involved in the work, it can negatively impact other workers. On the contrary, if we cultivate virtues of self-denial, generosity, humility, simplicity, perseverance, and faith—virtues seen in this brief description of Nehemiah’s leadership—we can navigate the leadership waters with success, joy, and encouragement to those we oversee. We can exemplify godly leadership in all spheres of work, regardless of whether the work is explicitly Christian or not. In fact, to model godly leadership principles in all vocational sectors is to bear bold and countercultural witness to God.

With the Help of Our God: Finishing God’s Purposes With Divine Strength

Biblical Narrative (Nehemiah 6:1–7:4)

When the gaps in the wall were closed, certain enemies—Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem (6:1)—led a conspiracy against Nehemiah. Sanballat and Geshem asked Nehemiah for a meeting in a field with the intent to harm him (6:2), but Nehemiah refused and continued in the work (6:3). They did this four times, and each time Nehemiah refused (6:4). Eventually, they sent a letter that accused Nehemiah of planning to rebel against the king (6:5–7). Nehemiah defended himself against this libelous claim (6:8) and prayed for God’s strength to continue the work without fear (6:9). Nehemiah’s fear of God had overcome fear of men (cf. 5:15). Next, Sanballat and Tobiah hired a false prophet to lure Nehemiah into the temple to cause him to sin and invalidate himself (6:10–13). Nehemiah refused and ultimately committed their judgment to God’s just hand (6:14).

After fifty-two days of work, the Israelites completed the wall (6:15). This caused the surrounding peoples to be afraid because they knew God’s hand was upon his people (6:16). Still, Tobiah sought to undermine Nehemiah by drawing people to his side by oath, having people brag abot him to Nehemiah, and sending letters of intimidation (6:17–19). While opposition remained, the wall had been completed, the doors were set, leadership was entrusted to the faithful, and guards were appointed (7:1–3). The wall was complete, but houses had not been rebuilt at this time (7:4).

Biblical Principles

Risk of Godly Work. God alone brings our vocational efforts to fruition. As the wall was near completion, Nehemiah’s enemies increased their opposition, becoming libelous and violent. While many work environments do not put one’s life at immediate risk, we do put our lives on the line when we align faith in Christ with our lifework. God’s calling on our lives means that our own safety is secondary to God’s purposes. However, this does not encourage reckless living. Nehemiah, in fact, shows great prudence and wisdom as he discerns plots against his life. Nehemiah not only discerned threatening attacks against him (6:2, 9, 12–14), but he also stayed committed to the work God had for him (6:3, 9). His focus on God’s work enabled him to navigate threats against his life.

Empowered by God’s Strength. It was by God’s strength that Nehemiah went about his (and God’s) work (6:9). It was God alone who could bring justice upon his enemies (6:14) and it was only by God’s help that the work was completed (6:16). Even as Nehemiah appointed a new governor, he showed that God-fearing and faithful character is of great importance (7:2). No one can control or predict the outcome of one’s vocational efforts, but our confidence in God will enable us to persevere in the work even when personal attacks threaten our lives. We should navigate these risks with wisdom and realize that all who pursue God’s calling on their lives should expect opposition. In the end, we each embrace our lifework as something that God alone can bring to fruition. Embracing our life calling with a faith perspective will humble us in our successes and encourage us in our failures. To experience God’s favor in our lifework is to humbly confess that any achievement or accomplishment is God’s doing: “This task had been accomplished by our God” (6:16).

Conclusion

Nehemiah’s gripping chronicle makes for dramatic storytelling. But his autobiographical account also establishes believers in the faith by refocusing their understanding and approach to work. Nehemiah’s faithful work in the Persian court and his prayerful concern for God’s people highlight the importance of aligning our work to God’s purposes. Nehemiah inspected the walls, summoned the people to work, and mobilized the community of faith in a collaborative and organized rebuilding effort. As a skillful and godly leader, Nehemiah helped the people overcome external opposition and internal injustice and oppression. Nehemiah not only practiced generosity in his own life, but he also displayed great skill in managing other people. As a godly leader, his life was an example to follow. Through conspiracy and life-threatening circumstances, God used Nehemiah to bring his work to completion.

Our work matters to God; our work is an integral part of our faith maturity. While God has placed us in families, marriages, parent-child relationships, friendships, and civic environments, he has also given us the world of our work. As we interact with coworkers, fulfill our work responsibilities, manage and serve employees, or pursue new business opportunities, God is calling us to align our work to his cosmic purposes in the world. Whether our work is paid employment, homemaking, full-time ministry, a season of educational training, or volunteer contribution, we must consider our true vocation as the total lifework God has prepared for us. As we integrate our faith and work, we continue our journey to mature as Christian disciples. In the process, we further develop our capacity to use “the bonds between us” as a means for God’s purposes in the world.

Session Synopsis

SESSION 6 SYNOPSIS
Lifework	In this passage, we learn about the nature and importance of Christian vocation. A cupbearer to the Persian king, Nehemiah integrated his faith and work in a way that honored God and fulfilled his vocational responsibilities. Gaining permission from the king, Nehemiah traveled back to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. He mobilized and organized many people of diverse experiences for this work. As Nehemiah aligned his work to God’s mission, he faced external opposition and internal challenges. He endured through this hardship and modeled a godly life and work ethic worth emulating. In the end, God alone was credited with Nehemiah’s success and faithfulness in rebuilding the walls. A summary of this story’s principles is outlined below.
Vocational Calling and Lifework	God calls us to align our work with God’s purpose in the world (1:1–2:8). One’s lifework is the sum total of a person’s contribution (paid or unpaid) to God’s work in the world (1:11). Christians should integrate their faith and their work. Although Christians have many different kinds of work to do in the world (2:5; 4:16, 22–23; 5:10, 15–16, 18), they should primarily view themselves as God’s servants (1:6–8, 10–11; 2:20; 3:5).
Godly Work	God cares about the substance and ethos of our work. We should do all of our work with a healthy fear of God (1:11; 5:9, 15; 7:2). Godly work should be marked by diligence (2:1, 18; 4:6, 23), conviction (2:12), endurance (4:6, 21–23), commitment (4:21), vigilance (4:22–23), wisdom (4:16–18), and thoughtful concern (4:19–20). Ultimately, believers should do their work to honor and glorify God (2:17) and to care for others (5:14–19). Godly work celebrates diverse domains of work and appreciates the collective, collaborative, and interpersonal dimensions of work (2:16; 3:1–32). Christians fulfill their lifework in prayerful dependence (1:4–11; 2:4; 4:4, 9; 5:19; 6:9) and deep reliance upon God’s strength (1:11; 2:8, 18, 20; 4:14–15, 20; 6:9, 14, 16).
Dangers of Godly Work	It is a risk to do God’s work in God’s way. When God’s people approach work in a godly way, they should expect to face opposition (2:10, 19; 4:1–5, 7–14), discouragement (4:10), internal threats to the community (5:1–13), and personal attack (6:2, 9, 12–14). When sin prevails, work can become marked by injustice, oppression, enslavement, exploitation, and mistreatment of others (5:1–10). God’s people live in a healthy fear of God that trusts in God’s righteous judgment (4:4–5; 5:13) to work all things out in the end.
Godly Leadership	God calls many to be leaders over other people. Godly leaders are selfless (5:14, 18), countercultural (5:15), gentle (5:15, 18), generous (5:17–18), and exemplify fear of God (5:15). Although many leaders are appointed to offiical positions (5:14), godly leaders lead out of their godly character (7:2), exemplary conduct (5:15–18), and faith in God (2:18, 20; 5:9, 19). These leaders address wrongdoings (5:1–10) with justice, generosity, and care (5:9–13, 15–18). Believers should respect those God has placed in authority over them (2:3–7).

Personal Reflection: Entering the Story

Apply the Text: The word of God is binding and authoritative, the only reliable guide for faith and godliness. True disciples submit themselves to God’s word. In this movement, you will apply God’s word to your lives.

Reflection Questions

Encourage one person to share a testimony about how this story has impacted them so far. Use the reflection questions to examine your life in light of this biblical passage.

Spiritual Practice

Pray About Your Work

Consider the example of Nehemiah. Reflect on his prayerful concern that his work aligned with God’s purposes. Write your own prayer to God, seeking clarity on what vocational lifework God has prepared for you.

Ministry Practice: Rehearsing the Script

Minister the Text: God’s word is living and active. Through God’s word, the Christian community is edified. In this movement, you will utilize the biblical passage to minister to other believers and build them up in their faith.

Application Questions

Look at the infographic below. Use the questions to think about how to minister this text to other believers.

Missional Outreach: Publicizing the Truth

Witness the Text: The Bible is a message of God’s gracious salvation to the world. In word and deed, God’s people proclaim the good news of the gospel. In this movement, you will use this biblical passage to reach out to unbelievers.

Strategy Questions

Reflect on the infographic below. Consider how you can use this passage to witness to the surrounding world. Use the suggested ideas to prime your imagination. Then, put together a plan to share this passage with unbelievers, Afterward, reflect on this mission experience.