Keep Doing Your Good Work

Keep Doing Your Good Work: Stay above the Fray

 

“So I sent messengers to them, saying, ‘I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?’” 

-Nehemiah 6:3

 

Sadly, some people will try to drag you down when you’re attempting a good work.

Don’t ask me to explain. It’s just part of some people’s nature to want to tear down what someone else is building. It’s a character flaw.

But you must keep building.

Nehemiah is the greatest Bible book on leadership. It’s about a leader, Nehemiah, who takes on a God-sized project to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls. At each step, he faces adverse conditions and every conceivable difficulty.

But he doesn’t stop building on the wall.

The short book of Nehemiah (only thirteen chapters) is chock full of lessons on visionary planning, proactive leadership, and facing opposition and obstacles.

My favorite passage is when Nehemiah is atop the wall and is summoned to a meeting. with a group of dangerous enemies.  Our hero calls down,

“I am doing a great work, and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?”*

Nehemiah keeps his eye on the ball.

He keeps his hand on the rudder.

He doesn’t allow his detractors to delay his work.

 

A few thoughts:

If you take on a big project, you will be belittled. Others will scoff. They will try to bring you down as they laugh at you.

Don’t let them steal your joy.

Don’t let them rain on your parade

Don’t let them slow you down.

Don’t let little people drag you down.

Great leaders build walls, while others want to tear them down.

Keep building.

Stay at it.

Keep your hands on the plow.

Secondly, others will try to distract you. There are many reasons they do, but you must stay atop the wall and do your work, regardless of what others say or do.

Stay above the fray.

Stay with your blueprint.

Stay with your vision.

It can be lonely at the top, but do not let the detractors or belittlers pull you off the wall.

Remember Nehemiah’s words to the men on the ground:

, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?”*

Takeaway:  A strong leader expects opposition but doesn’t let it destroy his vision.

 

*Nehemiah 6:3

The finest book on Nehemiah and Leadership is Hand Me Another Brick by Chuck Swindoll.

Learn more at www.creekbank.net