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Nehemiah 6:1-4 - Now when it was reported to Sanballat, Tobiah, to Geshem the Arab and to the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall, and that no breach remained in it, .... 2 then Sanballat and Geshem sent a message to me, saying, "Come, let us meet together ...." But they were planning to harm me. 3 So I sent messengers to them, saying, "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?" 4 They sent messages to me four times in this manner, and I answered them in the same way. NASU
What is a leader to do when confronted with this type of situation? Follow in the footsteps of Nehemiah by refusing to associate with them. If you are going to be a leader you need to realize there are certain people with whom you will not associate. "Bad company corrupts good morals," the apostle Paul said. Nehemiah had three powerful enemies who were trying to get him to stop building the wall and meet with them. They wanted to kill him. Your enemies may not want to kill you but they would like to kill your influence. Stop for a moment and think back over the last five to ten years of all the business, sports or political people who have lost their influence. The cause of their loss of influence may have been they succumb to drugs, fraud, greed or sexual promiscuity. The street smart leader will avoid people who would introduce them to these types of temptations and so should you.
Nehemiah said, "NO. I can't come down. I am doing a great work." He didn't say this just once he had to say it over and over again. When your enemy attacks you. You better be prepared to fight more than one battle. You better be focused on your goal. There are going to be times in your life where you are either going to take a stand and say, "NO" or give in and live with the regret. The choice is yours.
There is no doubt in my mind that the reason Nehemiah said, "NO" was he never lost focus of rebuilding the wall. That meant more to him than any other thing in his life at that time. By rebuilding the wall he was going to once again bring honor and glory to the city of Jerusalem. The city that God chose for the Israelites. What is it that you need to reevaluate at this time? What has been tempting you? What is it that you need to say, "No" too? Are there some people with whom you should not be associating? Think on This: It is easier to judge people by what they fall for than by what they stand for. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word
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Acts 15:37-39 - Barnabas wanted to take John, called Mark, along with them also. 38 But Paul kept insisting that they should not take him along who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. 39 And there occurred such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus. NASU
2 Tim. 4:11 - "…Pick up Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service."
It is Saul and Barnabas who are going to get into such a heated argument that they will separate from one another. Their friendship is going to be severed. Why? Barnabas didn't give up on people. He gave them second chances. Are you known for giving people second chances? Or are you like I use to be and that was one and done. I remember meeting with a man on my team telling him he needed to fire a guy. I have never forgotten his answer. He said, "Gary, let me work with him. Let me "Fire Him Up" rather than fire him." He did work with him and he did "Fire Him Up" and I learned a valuable lesson. He was more interested in people and I was more interested in the finished product. I can't even remember the project today but I remember that person. All I'm saying is invest your time in people and you will not go wrong. Even if you don't turn all of them around at least you know you tried.
Being able to admit when you are wrong is a sure sign of maturity. So who comes to your mind right now as you read this that you need to contact them and "admit that you were wrong." If the apostle Paul made mistakes then I am sure you will agree with me that we all can make mistakes. Now if can you admit that you were wrong like Paul then follow his example and do what it takes to make peace. I believe that a true sign of maturity is admitting when you are wrong. Think on These: Carve your name on hearts - not on marble. A single rose for the living is better than a costly wreath at the grave. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Matt. 5:41 - "And whoever shall force you to go one mile, go with him two." NASB
I was speaking to a well known college wrestling coach a few years back about one of his National Champions. I asked him this question, "What is the difference between him and your other wrestlers? He said without hesitation, "Oh that is an easy question to answer. He does more than he is asked." "How so?" I inquired. He said, "If I tell the team to do 100 pushups he will do 110. If I tell the team I want 20 laps he runs 25. If I tell them 25 pull ups he will do 30. Everything I ask the team to do he will always add more to it." Jesus taught what this wrestler was doing 2,000 years before he was born. He was going the second mile.
So what is happening in your life right now where you need to make a commitment to go the second mile?
Another wrestler said he visualized his opponents in bed sleeping and he was up training getting the edge over his opponents. I am not sure which type of motivation will work for you, but my recommendation is find the one that works and allow it to catapult you to the next level. Think On These: The world might be improved with less television and more vision. The largest room in the world is the room for improvement. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word 1 Sam. 17:32-33 - David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail on account of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine." 33 Then Saul said to David, "You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are but a youth while he has been a warrior from his youth." NASU
That is exactly what David is going to do in this text. He is going to go out and fight Goliath. There wasn't one other Israelite soldier willing to do what David was going to not only try, but accomplish. If you want to get to the top of your company or organization it is quite simple "do what no one else wants to do or is willing to do." The soldiers were afraid. Fears of all types handicaps people. Don't be afraid. Accept the challenge as David did and move forward. If you want to become the leader of your team then go and do what no one else on your team is willing to try. David becomes a hero because he was willing to step up and step out and accept a challenge. He will later become the king because he was known as a person who got things done.
Identify what it is that everyone is avoiding and go tackle this task. People will ask you, "Why are you doing this?" Some may even tell you to "Quit because you are making them look bad." All I can say is the way to the top is do what others are avoiding.
NASU David was promised riches, the king's daughter's hand in marriage and his family would be free from taxes. All he had to do is accomplish what everyone else was avoiding (fighting and killing Goliath) and that is exactly what he did.
Goliath's great strength was negated because David never got close enough to him so that his strength could be used. Instead David rocked Goliath's world and then he moved in closer. When David gets close Goliath is already defeated. David then takes Goliath's sword and cuts off his head. David did what no other Israelite soldier was willing to try. It won't be too many years from now and David will be in charge of the entire Army and Kingdom of Israel. What unconventional method will you use to accomplish your task? Look outside the box when encountering a new adventure. We all know the definition of insanity: Doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results.
You may be doing the little things already that no one else is willing to do. Many times this will not be a one and done. You may have to do them over and over again. In life you want to do what is right not because you think you will get some reward but because this is the right thing to do. Think On This: A man without principles never draws much interest. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word |
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