Nehemiah 4:1–6 ‘So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart.’ (v6)
Is the glass half full or half empty? This is often the question that is asked to determine whether you are an optimist or a pessimist.
But life is never as simple as the remains of a drink in a glass. There is always something that needs doing.
Yet life is not a series of tasks or check lists to be completed like some kind of computer-based adventure game.
Life is not a game, there is no final score, no clock ticking down that you can see in the corner of the screen.
Life is never ending, especially for the Christian who believes in a heavenly eternity with Christ.
Or as the writer in Ecclesiastes puts it, ‘everything is meaningless’ if life is not a game to win, a score to achieve or a status to accomplish.
However, within life there are moments that deserve to be marked in some way, to be celebrated, such as new life, significant achievements, birthdays, changing of seasons.
We can spend life worrying about all that still needs to be done or we can learn to celebrate each movement in the right direction.
Moaning never built anything. Nehemiah and his community have achieved some success. The wall is half built.
It is not finished, but it is further on than it was. It deserves to be noted, a drink to be raised a party to be had before the work continues.
Are you a person who always sees what still needs to be done or you able to celebrate the small achievements along the way?
A Prayer To Make:
‘Lord, thank You for all moments in life that You give. Moments to celebrate and be thankful. Help us to be grateful people, always on the lookout for opportunities to celebrate. Amen.’
An Action To Take:
Find something or someone to celebrate. Mark the moment with favourite foods or drink. Or take a trip to a significant location and speak out loud your prayers of thanksgiving.
Scripture To Consider:
Ps. 118:22–24; Eccl. 1; Matt. 2:9–12; 1 Cor. 10:23–33
