If It Ain't Broke, Don't Fix It!

9-23-10
Nehemiah 3-5
Lesson 2
"If it Ain't Broke, Don't Fix It!"

Surely, you have heard the expression, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it," or "Let sleeping dogs lie," or "Never wake a sleeping baby." All say essentially the same thing - leave things that are working alone and concentrate on what really needs attention. A few months ago, I decided to not only clean out clutter from my home, but to also fix and repair anything that was broken in the house. I made a list as I cleaned each room and went to Wal-Mart and Home Depot seemingly hundreds of times. When the repairs were beyond me and Keith, I would make a list for my Dad to complete. After I had written several repairs on the list, he would come to my house for the day taking the items one by one. Of course, my Mother also came along as his "assistant;" they almost entirely built their camp house by themselves, so experience is not lacking on their part, however, I will say it is entertaining watching them do the work.

One of the jobs that should have only taken about 30 minutes, took a complete morning because as it turns out, we were trying to fix what was not broken. As my dad was installing the new fan and light fixture in my bedroom, he finally got to the last detail, putting in the light bulb. We turned on the switch and nothing came on. He took the light kit off again and checked the wiring - nothing. He then took the fan down and checked that wiring - nothing worked. Finally, we called a friend of ours who is an electrician, and he asked a had we checked the breaker switch, and some other details. And then he said, "Are you sure the light bulb works?" Wouldn't you know it, the bulb had been damaged during the installation, and we had wasted all of that time and effort trying to fix what was not broken!

Unlike our experience, Nehemiah was a leader who simply knew how to surmise what needed to be done and when it needed to be done. He exemplified many great leadership attributes as he lead the Israelites in a seemingly overwhelming task - the rebuilding of approximately 4 to 6 miles of stone walls and ten gates along with several towers. My commentary mentioned that there were 42 different areas mentioned that got repairs. Nehemiah's plan was well thought out because he had already prayed for months before he stepped one foot into the rubble and ruins of Jerusalem. This is just one of the many great qualities about him; here is the "C" wordlist again as we step back and look at this incredible leader:

Concerned about the ruins and the people (mourned, wept, fasted, and prayed for four months)
Called on God about the matter
Called on God's Character and Covenant
Confessed his and the nation's sin
Committed to the task (Asked God for success and compassion before the king)
Courageously stood before the King ( his courage was based on who his God was)
Called on God (Prayed as he spoke to the king)
Composed before the king and clearly requested what he needed
Cautiously began (he waited three days after he arrived and then quietly at night surveyed the damaged walls)
Challenged the people (simply told them about what God had done and that how His hand had been upon him)
Conflict refuted with Confidence in who his God was, NOT who he was
Commissioned the work within Cooperation and Community (all worked and worked together - "and next to him")
Commissioned the work within logical locations (started at the sheep gate and worked in front of their own house)
Conflict refuted with Calling on God (told His God about the enemies actions)
Commissioned the guards (set up a guard to protect the builders)
Calmed the people's fears (reminded the people of who their God was)
Credit to God (gave God the glory for frustrating the enemies plans)
Converged the builders, burden carriers, and the guards (all armed, ½ build while ½ guard)
Conveyed an emergency plan (trumpeter blows - all rally to the sound)
Credit to God (our God will fight for us!)
Commissioned shift work and "water break" rules
Confronted the sin of the people(faced the conflict from within and told them to STOP IT!)
Consulted with himself (calmed his anger before he contended with the nobles)
Contended with the nobles and the rulers
Called an assembly AGAINST the people
Conveyed why the usury against their brother was "scripturally" wrong
Called for an oath to be taken and issued a clear warning
Commanded by example (he had not taken pay, not burdened the people, and not gained from other's loss)
Called on God - "Remember me for good, according to all that I have done for this people"

And that's just chapters one through six! There's much more to learn as we continue through this saga.

And now - SO WHAT? Are you going to just sit back and admire all of those "C" qualities, or are you going to meditate on them and seek the Lord about what and how He would have you REBUILD? It has got to move from the page to the pavement! Why? Because conflict will come - your Lord Jesus warned you to expect trouble. So, are you going to face and refute the "ites" of this world like Nehemiah did? You must know and learn who your God is, and that He will fight for you as well. For your God can, "...whistle for the fly that is in the remotest part of the rivers of Egypt and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria." Is. 7:18 If He is sovereign over kings and kingdoms, He is certainly sovereign over your enemy and your circumstance. BUT... you still have to arise and do the work. Look back at the "C' list again and look at what Nehemiah had TO DO!!!! Yet, all the while, he rested on His God's sovereign, powerful, and strong hand!

So, if it ain't broke, don't fix it! But if is - arise and build! (But be sure to check the light bulb first!)

Laboring with you and through Him,

Phil 1:6

"For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus."

P.S. I plan to type of the list that Kay gave on the video when I get a chance. If any of you got the notes down in a good order, I would love to have a copy. Any takers?