Being a co-worker with God did not blind Nehemiah to the importance of co-operating with, and receiving the co-operation of other governors. Wise discretion is needed at peer level in interrelationships to get the job done. Two men, Sanballat and Tobiah, are mentioned in Nehemiah 2, who, in their personal and official capacities, were to prove themselves persistent enemies of Nehemiah and his work.

Ryrie comments: Sanballat (is) also mentioned in the elephantine papyri as governor of Samaria, he assessed Nehemiah's arrival as a threat to Samaria's control of Judah. Tobiah, probably an ex-slave, now governor of Ammon.

Discretion and discernment, as we shall see, enabled God's business people to see through all hindrances, and deal effectively with opposition. This principle, of discretion and co-operation with others, remains sound when faced with hinderers. Where there is great opportunity, there is usually great opposition (1 Corinthians 16:8-9 ). That being so, we should endeavour to maximise co- operation, that we may abound in the opportunity.

On his arrival in Jerusalem, Nehemiah took three days for assessment (Nehemiah 2:11 ). He would spend time waiting on God, but a large part of the time would be used in weighing up the people and leadership potential, keeping in mind the work to be done. Time is never wasted in discerning the abilities of those who are to be involved in kingdom work. Choosing the hours of the night, Nehemiah inspected the broken down walls for himself.

Nehemiah 2:12 "And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; ..."

Assessing difficulties at night can be daunting, unless, like Nehemiah, we know what God has put in our hearts. The Lord taught us to weigh carefully the job to be done, before commencing the work (Luke 14:28 ). Being a practical man, Nehemiah had to know for himself the worst of the situation. That night ride confirmed the awful conditions, but he viewed the ruin through the remedy God put in his heart.

Assess the worst in the light of God's assistance.

To get action, Nehemiah stirred a discontent with conditions.

Nehemiah 2:17 "Then I said to them, "You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire."

Nehemiah 2:17 "... Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, ..."

Nehemiah used the first person plural: "we", to include himself in the work. He could not do the work alone, so he did not say "I" (singular), nor "you must work - I will oversee." No, he insisted on "we". None were excluded from the work, not even Nehemiah.

Leadership means personal involvement in the labour. "We" is the secret of effective calling to the work force. The servant is no greater than his Lord: where He sends, He goes - where we work, He works (Mark 16:20 ).

Nehemiah 2:18 "And I told them of the hand of my God which had been good upon me, and also of the king's words that he had spoken to me ..."

They had divine assurance and human permission to get on with the work. A fully informed people, became a confident, fired up people.

Nehemiah 2:18 "... So they said, "Let us rise up and build." Then they set their hands to this good work."

They were inspired to labour, whereas before they had languished. We need not look for new workers, all that is needed is to inspire the workers we have.

The enemy scorned, and maligned the motive for the work as rebellion. In the face of this opposition, Nehemiah's confidence was in the truth that God was in control.

Nehemiah 2:20 "So I answered them, and said to them, 'The God of heaven Himself will prosper us; therefore we His servants will arise and build, but you have no heritage or right or memorial in Jerusalem.'"

The strength of God's business people lies in trusting in the sure control of God. It is always good discretion to depend on God.

There can be nothing but admiration for the businesslike plan that Nehemiah had ready, which turned the resolutions of the people (Nehemiah 2:18 ) into satisfactory performances. Notice some of the principles brought into operation:

His full plan of operation had been well thought out ahead, so there was no delay in commencing the work.

He brought the people to make a collective and a personal decision, making their participation wholly voluntary. In this way he was assured of their best work.

He set them in working parties with appointed superintendents. The groups chosen, already had acceptable leaders. In the case of the repairing of the sheep gate, the high priest with his brethren made up a team (Nehemiah 3:1 ). In another team of sons, no leader is mentioned (Nehemiah 3:3 ). Perhaps they were so used to working together, each accepting the other's gifting, that no superintendent was needed. In yet another team, the leader was a ruler, and his daughters made up his team (Nehemiah 3:12 ).

He used everyone, no matter what their rank or gifting. Priests, governors, nobles, women, young people, "son of" (Nehemiah 3:30 ), and merchants (Nehemiah 3:8, 31, 32 ). All worked according to the plan, order and design of Nehemiah. So did the ordinary people who made up the whole.

A good business person knows how to fit all diverse personnel in, to the best advantage.

He put people to work where they had the greatest personal interest: "made repairs by his house" (Nehemiah 3:23 NKJV), "in front of his dwelling" (Nehemiah 3:30 NKJV). By giving the people a personal stake in the project, he was assured that the work would be well done.

He recorded his indictment of those few who did not put in proper work effort (Nehemiah 3:5 ). Good management examines and indicates those who are lax and indifferent in their work.

He also recognised the faithful workers who did their portion well (Nehemiah 3:9 ). His wise discretion would warm the hearts of the profitable workers.

He praised the earnest worker (Nehemiah 3:20 ). It is important to give attention to the persevering and diligent, who patiently continue till the task is complete, and not only give attention to slack workers.

He insisted on orderly work. Fifteen times it is recorded: "next to them", and sixteen times: "after them," describing the co-operation and unity in the work.

Nehemiah planned that the work would progress systematically from the sheep gate (Nehemiah 3:1 ), to the fish gate (Nehemiah 3:3 ), to the old gate (Nehemiah 3:6 ), the valley gate (Nehemiah 3:13 ), the refuse gate (Nehemiah 3:14 ), the water gate (Nehemiah 3:25,26 ), the horse gate (Nehemiah 3:28 ), the east gate (Nehemiah 3:29 ), the gate of Miphkad (Nehemiah 3:31 ), ending at the sheep gate (Nehemiah 3:32 ).

Order is an important law to God and His business people. Nehemiah left a record that reveals much of his method as God's businessman for our learning. No matter what our profession or service, or involvement for the Lord, these principles applied, bring success.

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QUESTIONS FOR GROUP INTERACTION

1. How important is it to exercise discretion in dealing with others, especially those in powerful positions? (Nehemiah 2:9 ).
2. Do you think it was lack of faith on Nehemiah's part to arrive with an armed escort? (Nehemiah 2:9; Ezra 8:22 ).
3. Should God's business people, faced with a great opportunity, seek to maximise co-operation?
4. Do you think it is important to spend time assessing and discerning the abilities of those to be involved in the work, before commencing the business or kingdom work? (Nehemiah 2:11 ).
5. Should leaders earnestly desire supernatural discernment? (1 Corinthians 12:10,31 ).
6. Is it wise to view your task in the worst possible light? (Nehemiah 2:12 ).
7. Do you view the worst of situations in the light of the remedy God has put in your heart?
8. Do you inspire others to work with you by fully informing them of the true conditions? (Nehemiah 2:17 ).
9. Do you believe personal involvement and example are the secret of getting others to work with you? (Nehemiah 2:17 ).
10. Do you tend to look for new workers instead of inspiring the ones you have?
11. Are you put off by those who scorn your vision, or are you steadfast in knowing God is in control? (Nehemiah 2:19-20 ).
12. Do you believe God gives the strength to accomplish what He has put in your heart to do, and that this is part of His prospering you? (Nehemiah 2:20 ).
13. When people respond positively to motivation (Nehemiah 2:18 ), how necessary is it to have a workable plan of operation ready?
14. Do you think it a good plan to set voluntary working groups under appointed superintendents?
15. What made Eliashib, the high priest, the right one to lead the team that built the sheep gate? (Nehemiah 3:1 ).
16. Do people work best when they have the greatest personal interest? (Nehemiah 3:23,30 ).
17. Does good management include challenging those who perform their duties indifferently? (Nehemiah 3:5 ).
18. Are you surprised to learn that women were working on building the wall? (Nehemiah 3:12 ).
19. Is orderly work a divine principle? Do you think there is a spiritual lesson in the work beginning and ending at the sheep gate? (Nehemiah 3:1-3,32 ).