No doubt you’ve taken at least one gift assessment during your life. Those tests suggest you might find optimum career placement, reasonable financial returns and a sense of fulfillment if you pursue the results.
Evaluate methods of determining your life direction in light of Nehemiah, a devout Jew living in the Persian capital of Susa. He was a descendent of Jews deported to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar, the destroyer of Jerusalem. Later, the Persians usurped the Babylonians.
At the beginning of his autobiography, Nehemiah described his season of passionate prayer
in response to hearing despairing news of hindrances to restoration and reconstruction efforts in his spiritual home, Jerusalem. Almost as an aside, he mentioned holding a high position in the Persian court as cup-bearer and chief wine-taster for King Artaxerxes. His prayer session resulted in severe depression that he couldn’t conceal.
An unhappy countenance of a royal courtier of that time would normally have led to termination of employment, even death. But the king had a soft spot for Nehemiah and began a line of questioning that resulted in a new commission for Nehemiah.
Nehemiah’s career change can inspire courage to modify one’s course when God’s interests are at stake. Imagine suddenly shifting from elite wine-taster to the complex role of pre-planning a rebuild of the influential fortress of Jerusalem, a place Nehemiah had never visited.
Nehemiah accomplished this task without fully knowing what was needed for reconstruction of the city – there was no Home Depot in Jerusalem. Before setting out with supplies, he acted as an ambassador, gaining permission to pass through several jurisdictions. Furthermore, before he was officially appointed as governor, he generated cohesiveness among the rag-tag surviving residents and the dispirited, returning exiles for building the city walls (Jeremiah 39:10). Among other things, he boldly encouraged soldiers to protect construction workers. He also acted as unofficial royal lawyer against opposition groups. It was one new learning curve after the other.
Nehemiah stepped away from an enviable, simple position with substantial earthly benefits and jumped into an undefined role with multiple headaches and unpredictable results. But there was another profound difference between his two roles. The latter position carried everlasting reward for pleasing the God of Israel who had chosen Jerusalem as His forever dwelling place.
How do you view your work in this world? What do you value most – security, status, salary? God sometimes provides those things as side benefits, but not always. Review your priorities. Whose kingdom has preeminence, yours or His? Read Nehemiah 1:1-11. Let Nehemiah’s attitude about himself, God’s people and God’s kingdom permeate your heart.
Bonus: Books of Ezra and Nehemiah Summary | Watch an Overview Video
by Kathleen Petersen
