August 31

Meanwhile, the people of Judah said: “The strength of the laborer fails, and there is so much rubble that we will never be able to rebuild the wall.” — Neh 4:10 BSB

There are always those who discourage and criticize. They find fault with their own tasks and object to the methods of others.

We remember how it was with the spies who scouted the Promised Land. Though they acknowledged that it was a good land, rich and fertile, they focused on the giants and obstacles, discouraging a whole nation.

People often make it harder for others to live righteously by spreading negativity and doubt. The people of Judah in Nehemiah’s time were half-hearted in their efforts to rebuild the city. They were unwilling to make the necessary sacrifices.

Nothing good is accomplished without cost. Gold is not picked up in the streets. Half-heartedness is not just weakness—it is sin. Throughout history, those who have been blessings to the world have been willing to bear burdens that seemed too heavy for them. A life of ease never accomplishes much for God or the world!