NEHEMIAH, "From Success to Significance!"
For generations, American opportunity has inspired many to have a work ethic that led to individual success. Men like Joseph Pulitzer, Irving Berlin, Albert Einstein, and Andrew Carnegie came to America as immigrants but each took advantage of the opportunity and left their marks upon literature, the arts, science and industry. They worked hard, dreamed big, and achieved much; yet, was success their greatest achievement?
Albert Einstein once said to a Life Magazine reporter, "Try to become not a man of success, but try rather to become a man of value." Real value outlasts the man! Even when people no longer remember Joseph Pulitzer, writers will still receive the Pulitzer Prize, and people will visit the Statue of Liberty, the pedestal of which he and his newspaper inspired to be funded! And, long after Irving Berlin is forgotten, we will still be singing White Christmas, Count Your Blessings, and God Bless America!
Twenty-five hundred years ago, a man who had achieved success far beyond his peers had the opportunity to leave it all and become a man of significance. He was, probably, the least likely man to do the job, but he was aware of the need and was willing to take the risk. Because he did, God kickstarted a project that had lain dormant for over seventy years, and this man remains an example of faith and initiative that still inspires us today. God could have used someone else, but He chose to use the most unlikely to accomplish the most significant.
Sunday morning, July 26, we are taking a short break from the study of 1 Peter to look at a man named Nehemiah. His name means Jehovah comforts, or God is full of compassion and pity! He was the son of Hachaliah which means whom God enlightens. Nehemiah lived up to both of those names. He was intuitive, seeing into the depths of a situation, and then, like God, he felt compassion for what he saw. Although he was a Jewish immigrant, he worked his way up the political ladder and became an official in the Persian government. As cupbearer, he was personally responsible for the king’s safety, and, therefore, one of the most trusted individuals in government. He would have had both influence and affluence, living in plush regal surroundings.
Yet, the time came when he had to choose between living in success or taking the risk to live in significance. He was an unlikely man for the job, but he ended up accomplishing an uncommon work!
Albert Einstein once said to a Life Magazine reporter, "Try to become not a man of success, but try rather to become a man of value." Real value outlasts the man! Even when people no longer remember Joseph Pulitzer, writers will still receive the Pulitzer Prize, and people will visit the Statue of Liberty, the pedestal of which he and his newspaper inspired to be funded! And, long after Irving Berlin is forgotten, we will still be singing White Christmas, Count Your Blessings, and God Bless America!
Twenty-five hundred years ago, a man who had achieved success far beyond his peers had the opportunity to leave it all and become a man of significance. He was, probably, the least likely man to do the job, but he was aware of the need and was willing to take the risk. Because he did, God kickstarted a project that had lain dormant for over seventy years, and this man remains an example of faith and initiative that still inspires us today. God could have used someone else, but He chose to use the most unlikely to accomplish the most significant.
Sunday morning, July 26, we are taking a short break from the study of 1 Peter to look at a man named Nehemiah. His name means Jehovah comforts, or God is full of compassion and pity! He was the son of Hachaliah which means whom God enlightens. Nehemiah lived up to both of those names. He was intuitive, seeing into the depths of a situation, and then, like God, he felt compassion for what he saw. Although he was a Jewish immigrant, he worked his way up the political ladder and became an official in the Persian government. As cupbearer, he was personally responsible for the king’s safety, and, therefore, one of the most trusted individuals in government. He would have had both influence and affluence, living in plush regal surroundings.
Yet, the time came when he had to choose between living in success or taking the risk to live in significance. He was an unlikely man for the job, but he ended up accomplishing an uncommon work!
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home