Where is Our Focus

Where is Our Focus
Nehemiah 1-5
"When I saw their fear, I rose and spoke to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people; 'Do not be afraid of them; remember the Lord who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses.'"

We live in a culture of fear. Frank Furedi rightly points out in his book, How Fear Works: Culture of Fear in the 21st Century: "Fear itself has become politicized to a point where debate is rarely about whether or not we should be fearful, but about who we are and what we should fear. Fear itself has become a singularly significant point of reference in our public conversation." Today, we fear who is elected and who is not elected. We fear the present and the future. We fear not only what is real, but we also fear what is imagined. Politicians use fear to manipulate our vote, and advertisers use it to sell us their products. However, it is not only rampant in our culture; tragically, it is also prevalent in our churches. We fear for the future of our nation and the future of the church.

The Jews in the time of Nehemiah also became paralyzed by fear. When the people rebuilt the temple during the first return under Zerubbabel, they were filled with excitement. However, excitement can easily turn to despair when fear grips the heart. After Ezra's return, Nehemiah anxiously waited for the report on how the people and the nation of Israel were doing. Thirteen years passed, and when the news finally came back, the report was disturbing. Although they had rebuilt the temple, the city itself was still in ruins. As a result, he obtained permission from King Artaxerxes to return to Jerusalem and oversee the rebuilding project. When he arrived and started to rally the people to start the rebuilding project, they soon faced opposition from the surrounding kings, Sanballat and Tobiah. They not only ridiculed the Jews for their efforts, but they also accused them of insurrection. Sanballat and Tobiah rose in opposition and threatened the people with military attack if they continued to rebuild the city. Soon fear gripped the people, and they became discouraged. The mantra that became the bi-word throughout the city was "The strength of the burden bearers is failing, yet there is much rubbish; and we ourselves are unable to rebuild the wall" (4:10). Fear not only gripped their hearts, but it also silenced the hammers of the builders.

The same thing can happen in the church and our lives. When we see all the issues of our day and all the challenges and problems, when we see how evil seems to be triumphing over righteousness, we become spiritually paralyzed. Instead of seeking to advance the kingdom of Christ by being a witness for the church, we become silent in fear of rejection, ridicule, and opposition. We can also be overwhelmed with fear when we face the adversities and struggles of life. When life becomes uncertain and the future unknown, fear creeps into the heart and the soul.

The problem with the Jews was not the strength of the opposition; it was the focus of their attention. They had become singularly focused on the issues and challenges rather than God. Thus, Nehemiah challenges them in 4:14 to realign their perspective. Instead of focusing on the threat of the enemy, they needed to look to the power and greatness of the God who acts on their behalf and promises to fight their battles for them. When fear and anxiety become overwhelming, we need to change our focus. Instead of concentrating on the circumstances we face or the uncertainties of the day, we need to focus on the security of God and His control of the universe, the future, and our individual lives. Faith dispels fear, so when fear starts to seize our lives, it serves as a barometer for our soul, pointing to the focus of our life. When you find yourself anxious about the events of today or the uncertainties of tomorrow, remember God, who is unlimited in His power, for He promises to care for you.