I am good at my job. I like what I do, and I have fun doing it. I love seeing my work come together and run properly. It gives me a great sense of joy and satisfaction. One of my pet peeves is having to correct someone else’s work or having to do someone else’s job for them. I often feel disdain for that person. It also causes my ego to inflate and I swell with pride at how much better I can do my job than them.
I was studying the book of Nehemiah and came across the following passage. Chapter 3 is a recount of the Jews that helped rebuild the wall of Jerusalem and what sections they worked on. Verse 5 says, “…the Tekoites made repairs, but their nobles did not support the work of their masters.” Some of the Tekoite people didn’t want to help. They didn’t do their job. I read this and thought to myself that I can totally relate. “These guys are having to pick up the slack for someone else. How typical. I’m right there with you, Tekoites. I’m just like you.”
The Jews and especially the Tekoites who did the work had every right to grumble and complain. They could have done their job and then rubbed it in the faces of the nobles who refused to help. Instead, they did this: Verse 27 says, “…the Tekoites repaired another section in front of the great projecting tower and as far as the wall of Ophel.”
Instead of doing their job and being satisfied with that, they saw lacking on the part of their fellow Tekoites and they made up for it. The Tekoites are noteworthy for two things: they are the only group recorded who had people that did not work on the rebuilding of the wall and they are one of only three groups recorded to have worked on two sections of the wall.
My heart dropped. I started to think about how haughty I can be, how arrogant I can become when showing up someone else. The Tekoites showed grace. I had none of that. I was nothing like the Tekoites.
So, I started to wonder about how to put that into practice. How do I become graceful? I started to think about my service to God. I volunteer regularly at my church. I lead a Bible study once a week. I tithe faithfully. So many times, I think to myself, “I do enough. I’ve done enough work for God this week.” But what if I asked, “What’s next? I’ve done this. What do you need me to do now?” The Tekoites, despite being undermanned, saw a need and met it. They had already done as much as anyone else. But someone had to do it. So, they did.
It is hard, and it is humbling. But it is graceful, and it reflects the grace given to us. There is always work to be done. It’s time for me to be like the Tekoites.
Finding His Footsteps 