Nehemiah 3:1-5: a reflection

1Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers the priests, and they built the sheep gate. They sanctified it, and set up its doors. They sanctified it even to the tower of Hammeah, to the tower of Hananel. 2Next to him the men of Jericho built. Next to them Zaccur the son of Imri built. 3The sons of Hassenaah built the fish gate. They laid its beams, and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars. 4Next to them, Meremoth the son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz made repairs. Next to them, Meshullam the son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabel made repairs. Next to them, Zadok the son of Baana made repairs. 5Next to them, the Tekoites made repairs; but their nobles didn’t put their necks to the Lord’s work.

As Jerusalem's wall is rebuilt, section by section, nearly everyone pitches in, priests, ordinary families, people from surrounding towns, even the high priest himself lifting stones. But one small, pointed note stands out: the Tekoites made repairs, but their nobles would not put their necks to the work of their Lord. The important men of Tekoa would not stoop to the manual labor everyone else was doing.

Notice the contrast the text quietly draws. The high priest built. Ordinary people built. But the nobles held themselves above it, too dignified, apparently, to get their hands dirty on the common work, even work described as the work of their Lord. Their pride kept them from the shared task that even the high priest was willing to do.

That is a mirror worth looking into. It is possible to consider ourselves too important, too senior, too significant to do the humble, hands-on work, to leave the serving of tables and the lifting of stones to others while we keep our dignity intact. But the pattern of God's people, and of Christ himself, who washed feet, runs the other way: the greater you are, the more willing you should be to stoop to the shared work. Do not be like the nobles of Tekoa, too proud to bend your neck to the work. Be among those, even the high priest among them, who were willing to build.

Lord, keep me from being too important in my own eyes to do the humble, hands-on work. Like the high priest who built the wall, and like your Son who washed feet, make me willing to stoop to the shared task, and never too dignified to bend my neck to the work you give.