After him Baruch the son of Zabbai zealously repaired another section, from the Angle to the doorway of the house of Eliashib the high priest.--Nehemiah 3:20(NASB)
Most of the time when someone is asked who their hero is they mention a great athlete or someone who has done something extraordinary. What the aftermath of the tragedy of 911 taught us, however, is that heroes can be ordinary people that do menial work in an extraordinary way. Consider, for example, all of those who have worked fervently to clear away the rubble of the World Trade Center or rebuild the Pentagon. They are certainly heroes.
In the time of Nehemiah there were others that were similar heroes. The walls of Jerusalem had been destroyed because of a Babylonian invasion seventy years before. Now God was calling on His people to rebuild His holy city. Though Nehemiah had the vision, ordinary people were needed to carry out this task! If you look at Nehemiah 3, you will see a long listing of names of those who worked on the wall and what they did. This might seem to some a boring chapter and one might ask: Why include all of these names? The reason is simple: Whenever we do something for God we are always written in His Book.
If you study Nehemiah 3, one name stands out: Baruch son of Zabbai. It is only about him where it is said he zealously repaired his section. While this does not appear in all translations, it certainly appears in the New American Standard considered the most accurate of translations. I want to do a lesson about Baruch because he is obscure and “ordinary”—the kind of person most of us can relate to. I want to also add, however, that even though he was “ordinary” in his position and abilities, he was extraordinary in the way he shared his gifts! Let us look now at what we can learn from Baruch, son of Zabbai.
I. He was available to meet a need.
Then I said to them, "You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace." I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me and what the king had said to me.
They replied, "Let us start rebuilding." So they began this good work.--Nehemiah 2:17-18(NIV)
We can also learn from the example of Isaiah:
Then I heard the Lord asking, "Whom should I send as a messenger to my people? Who will go for us?"
And I said, "Lord, I’ll go! Send me."--Isaiah 6:8(NIV)
When 911 struck, many Americans rallied to lend a helping hand. We as Christians also need to be willing to meet a need when one is presented to us. Baruch, son of Zabbai, was such a man.
II. He was willing to give of himself.
For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.--2 Corinthians 8:12(NIV)
Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all."--Mark 9:35(NIV)
"And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts.--1 Chronicles 28:9(NIV)
Many times what keeps Christians from offering themselves to service is the false belief they have nothing to offer. They think that because they are not gifted at speaking in front of people or singing that they have nothing to offer. Nothing is farther from the truth! Baruch was a mason and bricklayer and he was very valuable in doing God’s work. Whatever talent you have is valuable when you are willing to give of yourself to do God’s work! Remember that it isn’t just enough to be available, we should also be willing to give of ourselves!
III. He served with the gifts he had.
Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.--1 Peter 4:10(NIV)
We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.--Romans 12:6-8(NIV)
Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.--1 Timothy 4:12(NIV)
He served with the gifts he had! See what talents you have and ask God how you can use them to help build His kingdom! Your help is sorely needed! Even your age should not deter you from serving God with the gifts you have!
IV. He served God where he was at.
Live wisely among those who are not Christians, and make the most of every opportunity. 6Let your conversation be gracious and effective so that you will have the right answer for everyone.--Colossians 4:5
But thanks be to God, who made us his captives and leads us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now wherever we go he uses us to tell others about the Lord and to spread the Good News like a sweet perfume.--2 Corinthians 2:14
God has a work for you wherever you are at. Those who built the wall in Jerusalem worked on the sections where they lived. There are lost people at your school and place of work! In your community there are people who desperately needed to be touched by His love! What can you do to build the kingdom of God where you live?
V. He was armed for service!
When our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to his own work.
From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor. The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other, and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. But the man who sounded the trumpet stayed with me.--Nehemiah 4:15-18 (NIV)
Luke 12
"Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning."--Luke 12:35
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.--Ephesians 6:13-17
We need to remember there is a spiritual war out there! Just as the workers on the Jerusalem wall had their swords ready for battle, we as Christians need to keep ourselves armed with God’s word and His protection as we serve Him! Are you battle ready?
VI. He served God with passion!
After him Baruch the son of Zabbai zealously repaired another section, from the Angle to the doorway of the house of Eliashib the high priest.--Nehemiah 3:20(NASB)
Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men.--Ephesians 6:7(NIV)
For Christ’s love compels us...-2 Corinthians 5:14 (NIV)
It should ultimately be a passion for Christ that compels us in all that we do! It was this passion that drove Paul, Baruch, and many others who have served God. It ultimately isn’t our abilities that God is looking for, but rather, our passion!
For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.--2 Chronicles 16:9
God is searching for those with passion to serve Him! Are you willing to be such a person?
