Not just Spiritual, but practical too
| When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and that he intended to make war on Jerusalem, he consulted with his officials and military staff about blocking off the water from the springs outside the city, and they helped him. A large force of men assembled, and they blocked all the springs and the stream that flowed through the land. "Why should the kings of Assyria come and find plenty of water?" they said. Then he worked hard repairing all the broken sections of the wall and building towers on it. He built another wall outside that one and reinforced the supporting terraces of the City of David. He also made large numbers of weapons and shields. (2Chronicles32:2-5) |
This amazing tunnel reflects an important aspect of Nehemiah's leadership. He was not only spiritual, but practical. He was strategic and consultative and he deployed people and resources wisely.
As Christians we should always be doing the best we can for our communities. Our ministry should be holistic: Sometimes we have to feed people before we preach to them. Sometimes we have to provide them with water before we build a church. Of course, these are never actually mutually exclusive - we pray and sing while we make food and bring safety, light, food and water when we preach.
It is only towards the end of his life that Hezekiah becomes self-centered and materialistic, but here, as he faces Sennacherib, Hezekiah is at his best.
May we also be an attractive blend of holistic ministry styles.
