Nehemiah 3:20 - Homiletics

Earnest work.

"Baruch the son of Zabbal earnestly repaired another piece." It is singular that this word "earnestly" should be used of Baruch and of none else. Perhaps it is a mis-reading. Or quite as likely it alludes to circumstances unknown to us. The word signifies "burning," and is commonly used of anger; here, however, of zeal, or perhaps emulation. Baruch is set before us as "an earnest worker." Such should all Christians be. It is one of the marks of the "peculiar people" of Christ whom he has redeemed by giving himself for them, that they are "zealous of good works" ( Titus 2:14 ). The subject then is—earnestness in Christian work.

I. WHAT IT IS . Not zeal without knowledge, nor zeal fed by worldly motives, nor the ardour of a bigoted sectarianism, nor yet the warmth of transitory emotion, excited by speech or sermon or passing incident; but a steady flame of pious zeal, springing from Christian knowledge, faith, and love, and sustaining resolute purpose and endeavour. It is the life of God in the soul, in a state of vigour and animation, directed to practical service.

II. ITS CAUSES .

1. Ardent gratitude for blessings received. It does not spring from a desire or expectation of earning or deserving salvation by diligent works, but from the experience and hope of salvation freely bestowed, and realisation of the manifold benefits included in it. Its language is, "What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me?"

2. Love to God and Christ and men. It is— love in action; love to God and the Saviour, inciting to obedience and making service a delight; love to men, impelling to the effort to do them good.

3. Contemplation of the condition and prospects of mankind.

4. Faith in the Divine remedies for human sin and misery.

5. The example of others. Of such men as St. Paul. Preeminently of the Lord Jesus Christ, "who went about doing good," and could say, "My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work." The example of known living Christians eminent for zeal has a mighty influence in producing like characters. Earnestness of men in other pursuits.

6. The very indifference and neglect of which some are guilty. Stirring the heart to excusable, if not holy indignation; fear lest the work should suffer in consequence, and determination that it shall not.

7. Anticipation of the final account.

8. Fervent prayer. For pure Christian earnestness, by whatever means excited, is a gift of the Holy Ghost.

III. ITS SIGNS AND EFFECTS .

1. Generosity of gift and labour. Not meting these out according to a careful calculation of our share, or of what is "necessary" in order to retain a hope of eternal life, but delighting to do all that is possible.

2. Ready self-denial.

3. Courage in facing difficulty and opposition. Earnestness is slow to believe in impossibility.

4. Thoroughness of work. Doing our best as alone in any sense worthy of the Lord and his work.

5. Constancy and perseverance. Superiority to the influence of bad examples, and all other temptations to remissness in, or abandonment of, the service.

IV. ITS BLESSEDNESS .

1. As clear and abiding evidence of true faith and love. Giving "assurance of hope," which without practical and benevolent earnestness is unfounded, if it exist. No strictness of orthodoxy, or raptures of religious emotion, are sufficient without it.

2. As making the Christian's work happy.

3. As securing the Divine approval and blessing.

4. As insuring success.

5. As anticipating abundant recompense.