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PUBLISHED ON September 23, 2022
– by Gabriel Agboeze
1And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerses the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it to the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence. 2Wherefore the king said to me, why is your countenance sad, seeing you are not sick? This is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid. 3And said to the king, let the king live forever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my father’s sepulchers, lies waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire? 4Then the king said to me, for what do you make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven. 5And I said to the king, if it please the king, and if your servant have found favor in your sight, that you would send me to Judah, to the city of my father’s sepulchers that I may build it. 6And the king said to me, (the queen also sitting by him;) for how long shall your journey be? And when will you return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time. Nehemiah 2: 1-6 KJV
Nehemiah was a man who occupied an enviable position as the king’s cupbearer; it was a role that many would want to have during his time. Yet his comfort didn’t come into consideration when he heard about the fallen walls of Jerusalem and how his fellow citizens have been greatly afflicted. One of the duties of a king’s cupbearer is to never appear before the king, sad but Nehemiah escaped being executed because he was sad for the right thing. His motives saved him.
In verse 3 of the above scripture he told the king that he was bothered about the ruined tombs of his father’s and how Jerusalem lies in waste. He didn’t mention his father’s possession or how fire had burnt down his properties. His motives were so pure that the king asked him in verse 4, how he could help him? If what is making you sad is sponsored by the wrong motives and desires, I am sorry to let you know that you’ll still be sad for a long time until you start to change the motives. When you’re in it for the help that it will render and not for your gain, you’ll never be stranded in life. Motives are very powerful and it can make or mar your requests. When the king asked him to make his request bold, Nehemiah didn’t just speak immediately.
In verse 4 we were informed that he prayed to God first before making his request. There are some replies you don’t just answer because you want answers, like Nehemiah you must pray to God, so that you’ll be able to ask rightly and get the right backing. His motives gave him an audience and assistance from the king. When the cause for the action is right no opposition can hinder you from accomplishing the task. When Sanballat and Tobiah tried to frustrate the building work of Nehemiah, they couldn’t succeed because the foundation or the reason for the reconstruction was right. Nehemiah was not seeking fame or to be known, he just wanted to work and serve. Beloved, live to serve with a clear motive, Jesus said anyone that desires to be great must first learn to serve.
Prayer of the Day: Father I thank You today for this insightful word. I pray that my motives will not deny me of Your goodwill towards me. Every area where I have struggled to see positive results and change, because of wrong intentions, I humbly ask that you have mercy on me in Jesus’ name. I receive the consciousness to place needs accordingly in the Mighty Name of Jesus, amen.
