How to make Contributions

Nehemiah 3:2-5
(2) The men of Jericho built the adjoining section, and Zakkur son of Imri built next to them.
(3)The Fish Gate was rebuilt by the sons of Hassenaah. They laid its beams and put its doors and bolts and bars in place. (4) Meremoth son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, repaired the next section. Next to him Meshullam son of Berekiah, the son of Meshezabel, made repairs, and next to him Zadok son of Baana also made repairs. (5) The next section was repaired by the men of Tekoa, but their nobles would not put their shoulders to the work under their supervisors.

Israelites had returned to Jerusalem from seventy years of captivity. The assignment ahead at this point of the story is the rebuilding of the wall. They didn’t have the resources to do it as a government or as a nation, they, therefore, resorted to making individual contributions to the rebuilding of the wall.

Nehemiah chapter three is an account of how various people made contributions. The fact that it is recorded in inspired record means that there is something to learn and also that God cares about the contributions we make. We should be concerned about the contributions we make because God takes note.

Life is made of contributions. We make contributions to our own lives and to the lives of others. We are what we are because others have made a contribution to our lives. The progress we make is made of contributions. The people around us need contributions from us. Our community and congregations need contributions. We can’t avoid demands for contributions. We, therefore, need to learn from this chapter how to make contributions.

The first lesson is that contributions must be according to your abilities and not a set goal. This chapter records that others made a very small contribution while others made a huge contribution. None is condemned or praised because contributions should be according to your ability. Do not yield to pressure to give like others, you will regret and grumble.

The second lesson is that no one should be coerced. Major and urgent work was done, but there is no record of leaders coercing givers through endless painfully boring announcements. When the vision is clear and leaders inspiring, no one would be coerced. To coerce giving through strategic groupings or report of giving May work, but some among the givers are not cheerful. If the giver is not cheerful the contribution is a curse and not a blessing. All giving in ancient Israel was not coerced.

Thirdly we learn that work is done bit by bit. The contributions were done bit by bit. The wall was built section after another. The whole job was not done at once. Step by step the wall was built. If you have a major assignment, break it down into small goals and work on one small goal at a time. Bit by bit you will succeed. Bit by bit contribute to your dream and vision. Do not let a day pass before you make a contribution to your goals bit by bit.

Fourth is that contributions can come from individuals or groups. Our chapter records individuals who made personal contributions. Our chapter also records people who came together to make a contribution. They came together as families, clans, and even professionals, i.e gold sellers, business people, etc.

Fifth is that you may have a very good reason for not making a contribution, but it will not matter what the reason is. It will go down in history that you made no contribution. Many times what we contribute to is greater than our small genuine reasons or excuses. Therefore for a greater course, we put aside our differences and make contributions!

Sixth is that were designed to need each other. We need the contributions of various individuals for our lives to be possible. We should therefore be proactive in making contributions to ourselves and others.

Dear God I need your contribution to my life this year. Help me to give my contribution to the lives of others, in Jesus’ name, Amen!

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