Issue #79, April 11, 2012
At first glance the vision of Nehemiah looks simple: to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem. As we read his story from our 21st century perspective, it is difficult to understand the enormity of his task. Most of us have never constructed a stone wall and we no longer have walled cities in our nation.
But Nehemiah’s vision was huge. He was a cupbearer not a mason, he lived in another country and had no official position in Jerusalem. Resources were required that Nehemiah did not have. Jerusalem was in ruins with only a few citizens living there. They were preoccupied with their own personal needs and didn’t have the faith to believe they could again have a wall around their city. Enemies of the city would oppose his vision. From this perspective, Nehemiah’s vision was seemingly impossible. Likewise, the visions God gives to servant leaders are large and often seem outrageous.
Large visions require God’s perspective.
I expect that the first time Nehemiah sensed God calling him to build the wall he thought, that’s impossible! When viewed from our human perspective God’s visions always seem impossible. His dreams for my life are always bigger than my own dreams. His vision for your ministry, business or profession is larger than you can imagine. We need His perspective to have a larger vision. This is more than positive thinking; it is aligning my vision with the vision of God. Not all large visions are from God, but all of God’s visions are large. He calls and uses servant leaders to carry out His eternal purposes in the world. Any vision from Him becomes eternally significant.
Large visions require God’s people.
Nehemiah was able to serve wine to the king without assistance. He was a successful professional. But there was no way he would accomplish God’s vision alone. He needed many others to help him including the king and those who would carry stones. The difference between successful people and successful leaders is that leaders accomplish the vision with others. Any vision that originates from God will require teamwork. If I can reach all the goals I have alone, my vision is not large enough. Servant leaders recognize that the vision God has given them is too big for them to accomplish alone. God uses the gifts and strengths of others to help servant leaders accomplish His vision. If you can accomplish your vision alone, it is most assuredly not God’s complete vision for your life.
Large visions require God’s provision.
Building walls takes resources. Nehemiah would never accomplish his vision with his monthly salary from the king. He needed God’s help to provide the timber and other materials needed to build the wall. But he recognized that the God who gave the vision would provide the needed resources. The word ‘provision’ simply means to provide for the vision. Servant leaders don’t dismiss visions because they don’t have the resources needed, they trust God to provide. Don’t measure the validity of your vision by the quantity of your provisions.
Servant leaders don’t seek large visions to feed their own pride or ego. They don’t seek large visions to impress others. They simply seek to walk in obedience to God’s plan for their lives. They are not content simply to survive or to maintain what God has entrusted to them. They are passionate about making a difference in the plan of God. Through prayer and with time, they recognize God’s large vision for their lives. They accept this vision as Nehemiah did and by God’s grace they carry it out to fulfill God’s purposes in the world. Nothing less will satisfy servant leaders. Nothing less will accomplish God’s plan for our lives and His world.
For further reflection and discussion:
- Is the vision I have so large that unless God helps me it will never be accomplished?
- How many others will be needed to accomplish the vision God has given to me? How has God begun to bring them to help with the vision? Am I diligently asking Him to bring the right people to accomplish the vision?
- What resources are needed to accomplish the vision God has given to me? (Think far beyond financial resources.) Begin, or continue, to ask God to provide His resources for His vision.