The next section was repaired by the men of Tekoa,
but the nobles would not put their shoulders to the work
under their supervisors.
Nehemiah 3:5
As mentioned yesterday, Jericho is about 15 miles northeast of Jerusalem. Tekoa is about 11 miles south of Jerusalem. Again, we find men who don’t even live in Jerusalem carving out time to help rebuild the walls. But sadly, what stands out about the men of Tekoa is that their nobles refused to help! Maybe it was their pride. Perhaps they felt they were too important to help! Maybe they had a disagreement with the leaders in Jerusalem. Maybe they didn’t want to leave their city, their homes, to go and help. Maybe they were just lazy. Whatever it was, they go down in the annals of history as the only people listed who did not help! Every other person or group of people that Nehemiah lists in chapter 3 are people who helped!
In Mark 10:42-45 Jesus told his twelve disciples,
You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles
lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.
Not so with you.
Instead, whoever wants to become great among you
must be your servant,
and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.
For even the Son of Man did not come to be serve,
but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Mark 10:42-45
When we read the Bible hundreds of years after the wall was rebuilt, and we read what Nehemiah wrote, we don’t admire the nobles of Tekoa for their position. Instead, we look up to the others who were willing to work.
How do people who know you best look at you, or how do those who know me best look at me? Are we willing to be servants, even if it means doing something that seems to be “demeaning” or “lowly”? I hope so.
Today please pray that God’s Spirit gives all of us at Crossroads hearts like Jesus – to serve!
