Uzziel son of Harhariah, one of the goldsmiths,
repaired the next section;
and Hananiah, one of the perfume makers,
made repairs next to that.
They restored Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall.
…Malkijah, one of the goldsmiths,
made repairs as far as the house of the temple servants
and the merchants, opposite the Inspection Gate,
and as far as the room above the corner;
and between the room above the cover and the Sheep Gate,
the goldsmiths and the merchants made repairs.
Nehemiah 3:8, 31-32
I love that Nehemiah not only listed names of people who worked on the wall, but also what many of them did for a living. Goldsmiths knew how to work hard, but also had very lucrative jobs. Perfume makers were considered gifted and prestigious people too. In I Samuel 8:13 Samuel warned the people of Israel that if they appointed a king he would take their perfumers for his service.
Wow! Goldsmiths stopped their work to help rebuild the wall! And perfume makers said, “Manual labor to rebuild the wall is more important than taking time at my trade.”
There are many ways to sacrifice and give. Whatever you do for a living, pray and ask God what role he may want you to play in furthering his kingdom. Even if it is not at Crossroads right now – if it is to go on a short-term mission trip, or to help with Alternatives Pregnancy Center or SECOR or with one of our other local community ministry partners. No matter what you and I do, and how important it seems, sometimes God calls us to set that aside to help further his kingdom.
Are you unconditionally available to him – to do whatever he as our King of kings may ask of you? Pray that everyone at Crossroads, me included, that no matter what we do for a living, we will be available to do whatever our living Lord calls us to do!
Take some time right now to ponder the many ways God has blessed you throughout the years of your life! Take some time to thank him for how he has already blessed us as his flock here at Crossroads! And take some time to thank him in advance for the many who will come to know him in this new addition we are adding to our building!
To God be the glory – great things he has done!
