- From Yahoo News
Ford is posting big numbers, and did so without a government bail out. Ford stepped up to the plate and said, “It may not be easy but we are going to rebuild this thing and we aren't taking the easy way out.” They worked very hard and they kept focus. They took an inventory of their situation and brought in people, leaders and support, who could help them keep focused and shut out the voices of opposition around them and the rebuilt.
With a strong commitment to keeping focused Ford was able to pull back from the brink of bankruptcy.
They are a good example for me to follow. With all the talk of the lottery and such it is easy to dream about the easy way out. An easy job with few hours and immorally high pay, using debt to acquire all of the things we want or need, or simply just giving up before you see the reward.
Jenny and I need a new car. It would be so easy to just get the car loan and buy a new car, the one that we want. It would not be wise. We are trying to rebuild some sense of financial stability. So I spend hours perusing used vehicle adds and our financial situation trying to find the right car at the right price. It isn’t easy.
But boy will we celebrate when we get it.
Nehemiah recognized the importance of staying focused and celebrating progress.
8:1 And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the Lord had commanded Israel. 2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month. 3 And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. 4 And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand, and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand. 5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. 6 And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. 7 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law, while the people remained in their places. 8 They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.
Nehemiah has finished rebuilding the wall. He has made sure that the work is secured and supported. He has taken the time to step back and reassess the situation to see what still needs to be done, while acknowledging what others had done to help the work along.
Now Nehemiah goes back to the real focal point. God. His purpose was to rebuild Jerusalem as a way to rebuild God’s people and their testimony. So it is only natural and right to very poignantly bring their focus completely on God.
God deserves the credit for the work of a Builder, it is why we build. SO rightly when we see progress we take time to refocus on Him and worship Him.
This is not where Nehemiah left it, however. Nehemiah also knew the importance of celebration.
10 Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” 11 So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.” 12 And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.
13 On the second day the heads of fathers' houses of all the people, with the priests and the Levites, came together to Ezra the scribe in order to study the words of the Law. 14 And they found it written in the Law that the Lord had commanded by Moses that the people of Israel should dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month, 15 and that they should proclaim it and publish it in all their towns and in Jerusalem, “Go out to the hills and bring branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees to make booths, as it is written.” 16 So the people went out and brought them and made booths for themselves, each on his roof, and in their courts and in the courts of the house of God, and in the square at the Water Gate and in the square at the Gate of Ephraim. 17 And all the assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and lived in the booths, for from the days of Jeshua the son of Nun to that day the people of Israel had not done so. And there was very great rejoicing. 18 And day by day, from the first day to the last day, he read from the Book of the Law of God. They kept the feast seven days, and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly, according to the rule.
It is absolutely vital to celebrate successes. Nehemiah knew this. It was an honor to God that Israel party because of what God had done. So for us, when God has brought the grace to finish one project or stage, we to bring glory to God by celebrating Him.
What a testimony for those around us! They know we have been working hard to do something they just don’t understand. Yet they see us partying hard because of what God has done? It will certainly make an impression I promise.
Notice what Ford is doing. All of their commercials are taking time to reach out to their customers and celebrate their new car with them. It is working too.
Builders can’t afford to fail in celebrating God, nor can we afford to fail to bring in those who have endured the work with us. If we are going to party, it needs to be a big one. Nehemiah even said to bring in those who weren't prepared. Can you imagine asking one of your voices of opposition to celebrate with you?
There is joy and strength in celebration…
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