How does Nehemiah 3:17 inspire us to serve in our local community? Seeing Ordinary Names, Hearing God’s Call Nehemiah 3 is a roll call of wall-builders. Verse 17 slips by quickly, yet its details carry weight: “Next to him, the repairs were made by the Levites under Rehum son of Bani. Beside him, Hashabiah, ruler of half the district of Keilah, carried out repairs for his district.” (Nehemiah 3:17) The Spirit preserved these names to remind us that everyday people, identified by workplace, family line, and neighborhood, matter to God’s redemptive plan—and to our own communities. What We Learn from Hashabiah and Rehum • They served where they actually lived—“for his district.” • They worked shoulder to shoulder—“Next to him… Beside him.” • They didn’t wait for perfect conditions; the wall still lay in ruins. • They were known first as worshipers (Levites) and leaders (ruler of half the district), yet didn’t consider construction “beneath” them. Translating Their Example to Our Zip Code 1. Identify your “district.” • Family, street, workplace, church, school board, sports league. • Ask, “Where has God already stationed me?” (Acts 17:26). 2. Link arms locally. • Serve alongside believers and neighbors instead of alone. • Shared projects forge unity and testimony (Psalm 133:1). 3. Offer the skills you already possess. • Hashabiah ruled, yet he repaired walls. • God weaves diverse gifts into one body (1 Corinthians 12:18). 4. Accept imperfect circumstances. • Broken walls didn’t paralyze them; they grabbed tools. • “Let us not grow weary in doing good” (Galatians 6:9-10). Motivations Scripture Adds to the Mix • We are “created in Christ Jesus for good works” (Ephesians 2:10). • Service displays God’s light: “Let your light shine before men” (Matthew 5:14-16). • Stewardship is expected: “Each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve others” (1 Peter 4:10). Putting It into Practice This Week • Choose one local need—littered park, shut-in neighbor, after-school tutoring. • Recruit one “next-to-you” partner. • Schedule one concrete action step. • Celebrate God’s faithfulness, not personal credit (Psalm 115:1). Nehemiah 3:17, though brief, is a snapshot of ordinary saints turning hometown concern into faithful action. Let’s follow their footsteps, tool in hand, heart on fire, building where God has planted us. |
    |