Service: Sacrificial Love
Nehemiah 3, 7, & 11
“The Fish Gate was built by the sons of Hassenaah. They did the whole thing – laid the beams, hung the doors, and put the bolts and bars in place.” – Nehemiah 3:3
Nehemiah may have directed the rebuilding of Jerusalem, but he could not rebuild the city by himself. It is estimated that 50,000 people moved to Jerusalem and the surrounding towns in order to join Nehemiah in this great ministry.
As the leader of this giant project, Nehemiah kept track of who was helping him and what part of the wall they worked on. He watched over them, prayed for them, and encouraged them to continue working, even when others threatened them. He also noted when families served together (like Shallum and his daughters, and the sons of Hassenaah).
These were everyday, ordinary people who gave up the only life they had ever known and started over in a city that had been destroyed. These people worked regular jobs as perfumers, goldsmiths, merchants, and gatekeepers. People just like us. Not only did they volunteer to help rebuild the wall, they dedicated their lives to serving others.
We see this as they stand guard all night to protect the city against enemies. Families donate robes, animals, and money to the Temple. Everything they did showed that they were willing to sacrifice in order to benefit the entire community.
And that is what we seek to learn from them this week. How can we serve others – not just in the church, but in our personal lives as well? What kind of sacrifices can we make to show others that we love them? How can we continually put others first instead of ourselves?
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