March 6, 2026

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 because I need the money.”  The questioner asked the same of the second worker. That person responded, “I am providing a vital service to the future owner of this new home. The ditch I am providing will carry the necessary services they will need to have a fully functional and comfortable home.” 

Two workers, one just doing the work, the other realizing how great the work was. Your job, no matter what it is, is great. You are providing a service or a product that someone needs. Our society needs that which you do. So many times we are drawn in to the microscopic view of our work that we fail to understand the greatness of that work in the grand scheme of things. If you are a business owner or top manager of a company there are employees that need the work you provide. They have mortgages, children, vehicles, all types of assorted expenses, and they want to put a little away for their old age. You provide them the avenue to enrich their lives. If you are an employee, you are doing a great work. You are doing something the owner or top manager does not have the time to do or perhaps, because of lack of skill cannot do. You are helping to keep the business in business in order to help families like yours.

“I am doing a great work” should be a real life explanation of the importance of your job. It’s a great work you do, therefore do it greatly.

Dr. William Howe