Business by the Book Nehemiah 6:3 … I am  doing a great work …   The work you are doing is a great work. Nehemiah knew this in his day, and we need to understand it in our day.   To illustrate this truth consider a story I heard years ago. Two men were digging ditches from a subdivision street to building sites for new homes. An interviewer asked one of these ditch diggers, “What is it that you are working on?” That worker replied, “I am digging a ditch from here to there bec

Business by the Book Nehemiah 5:7 Then I consulted with myself…   The Bible teaches that there is great wisdom in consulting with others, getting their input, advice and thoughts. However there comes a time when the final decision has to be made. Obtaining guidance from others is wise indeed, but sooner or later each leader must determine the course of action that will be taken.   Nehemiah was faced with a decision, and he consulted with himself. You are your best advisor. Ha

Business by the Book Nehemiah 4:17 … every   one  with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand  held a weapon .   It was the fourth quarter of the game. Our football team was undefeated, but we were on the verge of losing. We needed a defensive stop. I played middle linebacker. The team we were playing was a good team, a big team, a championship team. On a certain play they gained about 12 yards by running the ball on a simple dive play. The defensive co

Business by the Book Nehemiah 4:6 So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.   Having a mind to work gets things done. The people of Nehemiah’s day rebuilt the wall around Jerusalem because they had a mind to work. As any good leader should, Nehemiah shares the credit of this herculean task with the people who actually did the work. So built we the wall… The “we” is the group of people that …had a mind

Business by the Book Nehemiah 3: 5 And next unto them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their Lord.   Businesses, families, churches and nations are hindered when their nobles cease to do their work. Of all the groups listed as performing work on their part of Jerusalem’s wall or gates only one group was singled out with a negative comment. The nobles of the Tekoites did not put their “ necks to the work. ”    In every group there are

Business by the Book Nehemiah 3: 1-2 Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests, and they builded the sheep gate; they sanctified it, and set up the doors of it; even unto the tower of Meah they sanctified it, unto the tower of Hananeel. And next unto him builded the men of Jericho. And next to them builded Zaccur the son of Imri.   The wall around Jerusalem had ten gates. Each gate and the span of wall between each gate was built by different groups

Business by the Book Nehemiah 2:19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it , they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king?   Solomon once wrote: … there is  no new thing  under the sun . (Ecclesiastes 1:9)  The tactics Sanballat and Tobiah used in an attempt to stop Nehemiah from accomplishing his goal are the same tactics those opposed to you

Business by the Book Nehemiah 2:17  Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are  in, how Jerusalem lieth  waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach.   Nehemiah was a motivator. In verse 17 he said, … come, and let us build … In the very next verse the people of Jerusalem replied, … Let us rise up and build …  He was a motivator. The people who did the work in rebuilding the wall

Business by the Book Nehemiah 2: 11-12 So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days. And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any  man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem…   Nehemiah’s patience in communicating all that was in his mind is a wonderful illustration of Proverbs 29:11. A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man  keepeth it in till afterwards . Before this man could tell those in Jerusalem all his plan he needed to

Business by the Book Nehemiah 2:10 When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it , it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.   There is always a Sanballat and a Tobiah. Whenever someone has a dream, there are those who will oppose that dream. These two will be seen again in the story of Nehemiah’s work in Jerusalem for they caused him much trouble, but he overcame.   Many times the mea

Business by the Book Nehemiah 2:9 Then I came to the governors beyond the river, and gave them the king’s letters. Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me .   The only place that success comes before work is in the dictionary.   He worked by day And toiled at night He gave up play And some delight.   Dry books he read New things to learn And forged ahead Success to earn.   He plodded on With faith and pluck And when he won They called it luck!   Author

Business by the Book Nehemiah 2:9  Then I came to the governors beyond the river, and gave them the king’s letters. Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me .   Aristotle said, “Well begun is half done.”  Nehemiah was “well begun.”  He received the king’s approval, he obtained the documents and raw materials he needed, and he even had a royal escort protecting him; now it was time to deliver. Nehemiah had everything he needed to potentially complete the

Business by the Book Nehemiah 2:7  Moreover I said unto the king, If it please the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the river, that they may convey me over till I come into Judah ;   Nehemiah had a desire, he had a timetable, and he had something else too. He had an understanding that there would be opposition and that he would need materials. Therefore, before leaving the king’s presence he asked for letters to the governors that may cause opposition and

Business by the Book Nehemiah 2:6  And the king said unto me, (the queen also sitting by him,) For how long shall thy journey be? and when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time.   Years ago a survey about job satisfaction published its findings. The number one vocation that brought its practitioners the most personal satisfaction was carpentry. The survey reported that carpenters were able to look at the finished project with pride and the

Business by the Book Nehemiah 2:5  And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers’ sepulchres, that I may build it .   Not being one that is easily intimidated, then there was that one time. I was waiting for an elevator in the downtown Marriott in Chicago sometime in the 80’s. The door opened and I stepped into the cab. Once in, I looked around and realized

Business by the Book Nehemiah 2:1  And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that  wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it  unto the king. Now I had not been  beforetime  sad in his presence .   Nehemiah was the cupbearer to King Artaxerxes. This was an important position, one that required loyalty, dependability, and a lack of errors. Among other responsibilities the cupbearer was to make sure the king was not pois

Business by the Book Genesis 41:14  Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself , and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh .   Joseph was falsely accused and put into prison. Even though he was incarcerated, Joseph kept a good spirit and rose to a leadership position. He was forgotten by a man that promised to help him. This did not harden Joseph, he simply kept on using his God given gift of management

Business by the Book Genesis 39:21-22  But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners that were  in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it .   Joseph was falsely accused and put into prison, yet he continued to prosper. The keeper of the prison gave Joseph a leadership position and Joseph was over everything the

Business by the Book Genesis 39:2-3 And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.   It never ceases to amaze how petty people can be in business. The majority of managers, company owners, parents, preachers, and leaders from every walk of life unfortunately do more to hinder prosperity among their follow

Business by the Book Genesis 39:9 There is  none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou  art  his wife …   Joseph was a slave, but in his servitude he was prosperous. He was given free reign over all that Potiphar owned; that is except his wife. Joseph knew this, he stated as much in today’s verse. He knew his boundaries. Knowing one’s boundaries is a key to life-long success in business.   The pastor of a large church

Business by the Book Genesis 37:3  Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was  the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours.   Nothing causes more problems than playing favorites. Israel, formerly known as Jacob, showed love to Joseph more than all his other children which caused hatred, ultimately attempted murder, and years of family strife.   When I was first starting out as a sales representative, the owner of the company that I w

Business by the Book Genesis 37:5  And Joseph dreamed a dream…   The story of Joseph has intrigued generations of Bible readers. It is an exciting story that is filled with treachery, adventure, heartache, and success. Throughout the narrative of Joseph’s life there are some business applications that are as interesting as they are poignant.   Joseph’s family life was not the best. His father loved him more than any of his other children which in turn caused his brothers to h

Business by the Book Genesis 24:27  … I  being in the way, the LORD led me…   Abraham’s servant was given an unenviable task: to find a wife for Isaac. Where does one begin to do such a thing? Can you imagine the thoughts of this servant as he began his trek? “How will I know her, what does she look like, will she be willing to believe me, what do I say, how do I propose for another man, etc.?”  His thoughts must have been a jumbled up mixture of emotions, fear, intrigue, and

Business by the Book Genesis 24:15 And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder .   My parents moved to a small town which is just south of Fort Worth more than forty years ago. About twenty years ago a small piece of property was placed on the market that was across the street from my mom and dad. It was fifteen acres with the

Business by the Book Genesis 24:12-14  And he said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham. Behold, I stand here  by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water: And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be  she