How can we apply Ezer's example of diligence to our daily tasks? Ezer’s Place on the Wall “Next to him, Ezer son of Jeshua, ruler of Mizpah, repaired another section, opposite the ascent to the armory at the Angle.” (Nehemiah 3:19) • A ruler who could have delegated, Ezer personally shouldered bricks and mortar. • His assigned stretch lay “opposite the ascent to the armory”—a strategic, likely difficult spot. • The wording “another section” shows he kept going beyond an initial quota. Hallmarks of Ezer-like Diligence • Initiative – he steps in “next to” the previous builder without delay. • Endurance – completes an extra portion rather than stopping at minimum expectations. • Courage – tackles a vulnerable military ascent, not an easy corner. • Humility – trades official robes for work clothes, modeling servant-leadership. Living This Out in Today’s Tasks • Start where the need is most pressing, not where recognition is greatest. • Finish the piece assigned, then look for “another section” you can shore up. • Treat every task—filing reports, changing diapers, mowing the church lawn—as kingdom work. (Colossians 3:23) • Work shoulder-to-shoulder with others; diligence is contagious. • When responsibility grows, keep serving hands-on; leadership never exempts from labor. (Mark 10:44-45) Scriptures That Reinforce Diligence • Proverbs 10:4 – “Idle hands bring poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth.” • Ecclesiastes 9:10 – “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.” • 1 Corinthians 15:58 – “Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.” • Galatians 6:9 – “Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due season we will reap if we do not give up.” A Closing Charge Ezer’s brief cameo proves that every faithful brick matters. Approach today’s emails, lesson plans, spreadsheets, or sink full of dishes with the same steady resolve. With each completed “section,” you strengthen the witness of God’s people and glorify the Master Builder who sees and rewards every act of quiet diligence. |
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