All Together Now

Read Nehemiah 4:1–7:73

12. The Jews who lived near the enemy came and told us again and again, “They will come from all directions and attack us!”
13. So I placed armed guards behind the lowest parts of the wall in the exposed areas. I stationed the people to stand guard by families, armed with swords, spears, and bows.
14. Then as I looked over the situation, I called together the nobles and the rest of the people and said to them, “Don’t be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!”
15. When our enemies heard that we knew of their plans and that God had frustrated them, we all returned to our work on the wall.
16. But from then on, only half my men worked while the other half stood guard with spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail. Nehemiah 4:12-16

Alot of work relationships form around competition. People show off skills and knowledge in subtle ways, jockeying for position and advantage. Yet smart people realize that teamwork has to thrive also. If individual assignments get tangled in a scramble to prove who’s better than whom, sooner or later everyone will be helping close up shop. Teamwork is vital.

Nehemiah realized that teamwork was crucial to completing the wall. Without it, the Israelites would not only fail to complete the project, but could lose their lives as well. As Nehemiah continues leading the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s city walls, he experiences opposition just as he had expected. He also faces poverty and other issues. It’s too much for one man to handle alone, so he organizes the workers together to support each other as a team. As you read about Nehemiah, consider carefully his emphasis on teamwork, delegation, and supervision.

Other lessons in this section include how to tackle large tasks; how to loan money; what to do when someone attacks your character; and the importance of courage for leaders.

Not only were the workers threatened by enemy attack; they were vulnerable because they were spread out along the wall. To solve this problem, Nehemiah devised a plan of defense that would unite and protect his people—half the men worked while the other half stood guard (Nehemiah 4:16).

Like Nehemiah’s workers, Christians need to work together and look out for each other. We may not have to repair a wall to protect ourselves from an enemy army, but we do war against Satan and his forces (see Ephesians 6:12). Our battles may come in the form of persecution from a coworker or relative, or from adverse circumstances—such as losing a job, getting a divorce, or being estranged from a child. Don’t cut yourself off from other Christians; instead join together for mutual benefit. You need fellow believers as much as they need you.