Two more things need to be said about Nehemiah’s relationship to his work. First, he coordinated the effort. That is, he not only divided the task into manageable units and then assigned the right people to each part. He also fit the whole together so there were no gaps and so each picked up where the other ones left off. We see this in such frequently repeated phrases as “the adjoining section,” “the next section” and “next to them (or him).”
Not only did Nehemiah coordinate the work so that no gaps were left and all worked closely to another. He seems to have arranged the work in part also for the convenience and motivation of the workers. Many were assigned to (or chose) portions of the wall in front of or directly adjacent to their houses. This would be convenient for all, since no time would be lost in commuting back and forth or in going home for lunch. And it would ensure good work. A person would be certain to build strong walls where his own house needed to be protected.
The best management recognizes an element of self-interest in even the best workers and on even the most altruistic projects.
The final element in Nehemiah’s work relationship is that he seems to have recognized the accomplishments of each worker. The chapter itself suggests this, since it lists many. Still, without any doubt it is only a sample of what this great leader actually did. We can be sure that, as he made the rounds of the builders, he called each by name and praised him for what he or she was achieving. Besides, he would have written it down. Somewhere there would have been a record of each one’s contribution.
All but one! Have you noticed that in this long list of names Nehemiah’s own name is not listed? He was as active as anyone, of course, even more so. We can be sure of that. But when it came to giving credit, he listed what others had been assigned and what each had built. Then, when it was all over, he gave the ultimate glory to God, as he had done from the beginning. “This work had been done with the help of our God,” was his conclusion (Neh. 6:16).
In his study of Nehemiah, Charles Swindoll wrote of him:
Nehemiah has displayed four prerequisite steps to be taken by those who would desire to discover and develop their leadership potential and skills. He: 1) realized his own limitations—only God can change a man’s heart; 2) turned to God—praying and waiting; 3) organized a feasible plan of action (while waiting for the Lord to answer); and 4) pressed on, despite vocal opposition, to execute the plan—once God opened the way.1
It is an excellent pattern.
1Charles R. Swindoll, Hand Me Another Brick (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1978), 57.
