We study the Old Testament, not because we are curious about the past, but because we are interested in the present. When I teach the Bible, I am not teaching ancient history; I am teaching current events. Here are some of the principles that we get out of the Old Testament that are applicable to today:
- There is a God
- He has a will
- His will is best
- My welfare depends on my relationship to his will
In Nehemiah we find the meaning of progress. There are at least six principles involved:
1. Progress causes conflict
a. There is a change in statue. Any rearrangement of the status quo causes conflict in the end.
b. There is a change of habits. Often we are no longer able to do the things that we have done in the past if we are to have progress. Conflict can occur with the change of new thoughts, new associates and new friends.
c. Criticism is part of the conflict. Fulton had his critics who said the steam engine would never get running. The minute he succeeded they said he would never get it stopped. Criticism is part of progress. One of the best formulas for handling this is: "Accept criticism that comes only from those who have something to gain from your success."
d. Envy causes conflict. We will always have those who envy us. Some will limit it to criticism, while others will form alliances to impede us.
2. Progress comes in small packages
So often somebody gives you a thought that lies dormant for many years, then comes to life at the time it's needed. Too many of us want some magic answer that makes up for our past detours and laziness. We are looking for progress in big packages, but it never comes except as we build the wall "one rock at a time." There are many things in our progress that we must do one small bit at a time.
3. Progress takes planning. Theodore Levitt of Harvard says, "If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there." However, we cannot let the planning take the place of the work that is to be accomplished by the plan. Too often planning becomes an end rather than a means. Meetings won't get the the work done.
4. Progress requires God. There is no true Christian progress without God. And it must be "our" God. We cannot pray to a god, but rather to our God. It must be a personal relationship. Until we belong to Him we cannot expects His providential guidance in our progress.
5. Progress requires guarding. It is not possible to give your full attention to accomplishing your goal because there are always circumstances as well as people against whom you have to guard your progress. There are constant interruptions. There are temptations and diverting interests. President Blair Knapp of Denison University gave the incoming students' parents a 50 minute lecture listing reasons why some of the students would fail:
a. they have come for the wrong reason
b. they will delay too long getting down to the hard work
c. they have been leaders due to weak associates and have not learned to establish their own leadership through hard work.
d. they will lack motivation --- they will lack the willingness to pay the price
6. Progress requires decision
In Nehemiah it says that the people "had a mind to work." We must make up our minds to accomplish. I have a friend whose daughter failed her comprehensive language test for four straight years, worrying herself and her parents. When she graduated with a blank diploma she was offered a summer tutelage. Her response, "I don't need a tutor. All I need is to make up my mind I'm going to pass it." And she did. Nothing happens until you have a mind to work.
We can safely say that it is God's will for you to work, because the Bible says, "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might." It is never His will that you be immobilized or that you be a loafer. What is the work you need to be doing right now? What is the guard you need to set against the enemies of your progress? Is there a habit that needs changing? An attitude that must go? A decision that must be made?
Set your mind to work and get to work!
