Nehemiah 3:1-12 Orderliness vs. disorganization (1)

1)    Definition: Preparing myself and my surroundings so that I will achieve the greatest efficiency.

2)    Scripture: Gen. 41:14; Prov. 16:1,9; 20:18,25; 21:5,31; 22:3 (27:12); 24:3-4; 31:10-31; Acts 6:1-6; 1 Cor. 14:40; Col. 2:5.

3)    Underlying Principle:

a)    God is a God of order.  “We are the creatures of a great Master-Designer, and His ordering of our lives is sure and certain.  Yet many people live without any visible order or peace or serenity.  The way we live ought to manifest the truth of what we believe.  A messy life speaks of a messy – an incoherent – faith.” (Elizabeth Elliot)

b)    The principle that every Christian is a steward in God’s house demands an ordered life that is ready to do the Master’s will.

4)    Illustrations:

a)    1 Sam. 11:1-11: Going to war requires an orderly battle plan. Compare this to 2 Tim. 2:4: No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.

b)    Nehemiah 3: The orderly approach to rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem made it possible to complete the task in 52 days (Neh. 6:15).  Clearly Nehemiah’s leadership was crucial in bringing order to a disorganized setting.

c)    John 4:34: The life of Christ was orderly in that He knew what His Father wanted Him to do and He was committed to that plan.  An orderly life doesn’t mean every minute is planned; it means we are able to adjust our schedule to do God’s will.  While His disciples went for lunch, Jesus spoke with the Samaritan woman (Jn. 4:33-34).  In order to pray Jesus sacrificed sleep (Lk. 6:12) and withdrew to lonely (uncluttered) places (Lk. 5:16).

d)    Acts 6:1-6: The dissension in the early church was solved by an orderly plan to care for the widows, a plan that maintained the ministry of the Apostles.

e)    1 Cor. 14:26-40: Paul called on the Church to have orderly meetings.  He complimented the Colossian church for their good order (Col 2:5).

I was reminded of a very “non-Biblical” illustration: the father in the Disney movie “Mary Poppins.”  He sang about his pleasant life. 

“I run my home precisely on schedule.  At 6:01 I march through my door.  My slipper, sherry and pipe are due, at 6:02.  Consistent is the life I lead. … It’s 6:03 and the heirs to my dominion, are scrubbed and tubbed and adequately fed.  And so I’ll pat them on the head, and send them off to bed.  How lordly is the life I lead.”

This is not what we mean by an “orderly life.”  An orderly life is one that is able to adjust as the Spirit of God leads.  More in the next post.