Ezra 4
1 Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the Lord God of Israel;
2 Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither.
3 But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the Lord God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us.
4 Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building,
Here we see the importance to be watchful and on guard. The moment God starts working, the devil resists and try to destroy His work. Even in our personal lives, when we dedicate our lives to the Lord, the enemy of our soul immediately attacks and tries to stop God’s work from progressing and coming to fruition in our lives.
The adversaries of Judah proposed to help them in rebuilding Jerusalem’s wall. Many people are like that. Although they have no calling, as soon as God starts to work, they want to be part of it and help. Others again, when God starts to work in the life of an individual, they are quick to give advise and help, although they are not called to that.
We as Christians should rather, when we see God working, leave the matter in God’s hands also to continue and complete it. He started it and He will finish it. Prayerfully stand behind the work God has begun, that God might attain His purpose in the life and work He is doing.
These adversaries of Israel gave good reasons why they wanted to help. They claimed to serve the same God, and sacrifice to Him. However, the difference was that they were never called of God to the work. They came of themselves.
We must look to ourselves that we do not make the same mistake. Do not be quick to go into something God has not called you to. Neither be quick to give advise. When we give advise from ourselves, we only confuse the person we’re giving advise, because he hears so many things from different people.
We need to be as watchful and clear minded as these children of Judah. We must be able to discern between what is of God and what is not of God. Even your best friend can delude you, if you are not watchful. Also be sure to make friends with those who are cleansed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. Build only with those. Stand together with those God has called and commissioned to build, no matter how enthusiastic others may seem.
Note that when the children of Israel refused their help, they immediately started to oppose the work vehemently. They constantly tried to bring division between the builders. They even hired counsellors, whom they paid, to give bad advise and bring division. They tried to frustrate and confuse the people, so that they could not see matters clearly anymore. The devil hates it when God’s people are united.
One marvels at counsellors who give advise and tells people what they should do and what they should not do. No, counsellors should be the servants of all, and lead a person to the foot of the cross of Jesus Christ. They need to lead a person to the place where he sees himself in the light of Jesus. If God hasn’t called you to be a counsellor, leave it alone. Otherwise you will only be a hireling, which flees when the person really needs help.
However, all Christians should be able to lead others to the feet of the cross.
May we be people who can pray and move God’s arm to meet with our young people and work in their lives. May we lead them to the feet of the cross.
Your greatest enemy in building and doing God’s work is yourself – your heart and mind. If you’re not watchful, the devil will poison your mind and cause you to think evil of your brothers and sisters. It is of the utmost importance to bring your thoughts into captivity to Christ, so that they remain pure and clean. You must expose your evil thoughts and bring them to light, so that they may be cleansed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ.