Day 2: For The Good Of Others

Then the king said to me, "What do you request?" So I prayed to the God of heaven. And I said to the king, "If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you would send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' graves, that I may build it." And the king said unto me (the queen also sitting by him), “How long shall your journey be? And when will you return?" So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time. (Neh. 2:4-6)

When Nehemiah mentioned his plan to the king, he received no guarantee that he would get to see things through to the end, or that he would get to enjoy the fruits of his labor in a rebuilt Jerusalem. He was a valuable member of the king’s court and the king wanted him to return to the palace. Nehemiah understood that his role in this fantastic project might be a very short-term one, maybe something that would only get the wheels rolling. There is no trace of disappointment or complaining, for his heart was content to serve the needs of others and make provision for their futures.

Lord, help us to keep the needs and the futures of others before our eyes as we labor
together to build what You are calling us to build!