Work With Me Here ~ Suzanne Dunn

Nehemiah 6:16 - And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard thereof, and all the heathen that were about us saw these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God.

God wants you to do a work for Him! Have you heard something similar before? I understand the point one is attempting to make when he makes a similar statement. I, too, have asserted that God needs surrendered servants to with for Him. Although, there is no misunderstanding in the statement, and I agree with the statement, in truth, God does not need us to work for Him. He wants us to work with Him.

We find a form of the word work twenty-one times in the Bible book of Nehemiah alone. God called Nehemiah and his crew to do a great work. It was a large job. There were many obstacles: the distance back to the homeland where the job was located, assembling a crew and materials, doing the actual labor with only one hand due to taunting opposition and the need to keep a weapon in the other hand. However, when the construction was complete, their heathen hostiles perceived that it was wrought of God. All their mocking and jeering, their cruel methods trying to obstruct the completion could not stop the work that God did. It was God’s work. He allowed Nehemiah and others who loved Him and had faith in and obedience to Him to work with Him.

I was listening to this book of Nehemiah through my earbuds (Yeah, I’m that high-tech!) one day when the above verse drew my attention. We have read and heard how Nehemiah said, “I can’t come down; I’m doing a great work!” Or, “….the people had a mind to work.” We all want to do a great work for God. We do everything we can to serve Him. At times, people may ask why we are so involved at our church, and we might reply, “I just want to work for God.” I say the same, and I completely understand why we say it. I am certain there is nothing wrong in the statement; however, often we get so busy working for Him that we fail to remember, it is not even OUR work. We are supposed to be working with God.

This verse in Nehemiah reminded me of the great dilemma that arises when I work for God instead of working with Him. I am often at fault of working for God instead of with God. I tend to function as though I don’t believe God could ever achieve anything without my help. Why, had I been around, He may have finished creation in five days instead of six! This is simply untrue. God is always going to accomplish His work – with or without me. It is HIS work; He allows me the privilege of working alongside of Him. The fact is that the work would never be complete if God had to rely on either me or anyone else. Why, I cannot even seem to finish the laundry at home – and our children are all grown! It is laundry for only two grown-ups!

I like working with my husband in both our home ministry and our church ministry. I really do like it. He is, in truth, my favorite person with whom to work – mowing lawns, painting doors, holding up walls while he shoots nails, planning, organizing, and making decorations for Vacation Bible School, even helping fuel buses at times or pump their brakes. There are times, however, I bristle when I must work for him. I am being an honest human here. I love my man to his very bones, but sometimes he needs me to do something NOW, and he actually means… now. While I do for him whatever he asks, I am often inwardly griping about it or at the very least rolling my eyes to Nome, Alaska, and back again. Sometimes, I verbally object even if no one else is around to hear me! When I view the “job” as working with him, I am content and absolutely adore him and the opportunity to work with him. When I focus on doing for him, I can be discontented, and though I still love him, grievances gain control and reign over my thoughts. Working with him is blissful and pleasant for both of us and for any other human within range. Likewise is our work for or with God.

I teach college courses. There are times when I try to instill critical thinking skills into my students. I ask questions, and they stare at me or, more often, stare at nothing. I might then ask the question another way, and I might get a curious look or two. I might say to my students, “Work with me here, people,” as I give some clue words or ask in yet a different way. I do not want them to work the

answer for me; I already have done my work. I want them to work with me – think with me – so that they might undertake the successful completion of the course.

In a similar way, God does not expect us to do His work for Him; He wants us to work with Him. God works His work, and God always completes His work. We do not need to do a work for God when He gives us the privilege of working with Him. While we cannot stop the work – for it is a great work – we must remember that He asks, “Work with me here, people!”