The Collaborative Family: Building Stronger Bonds TogetherSample

Today, we'll explore the story of Nehemiah, a remarkable example of collaborative leadership in the Bible. His story offers powerful lessons for Collaborative Families seeking to work together effectively for a greater purpose.

Nehemiah's journey begins in exile. As a Jewish man living in Babylon, he served as cupbearer to King Artaxerxes. Despite his comfortable position, Nehemiah's heart remained with his people. When he heard that the walls of Jerusalem lay in ruins, leaving the city vulnerable, he was deeply moved to action (Nehemiah 1:3-4).

Nehemiah's first response was prayer. He sought God's guidance and confessed the sins of his people, including himself in that confession (Nehemiah 1:5-11). This reminds us that effective collaboration starts with aligning ourselves with God's will.

With God's favor, Nehemiah secured the king's permission to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the walls. Upon arriving, he didn't immediately announce his plans. Instead, he spent three days surveying the damage himself (Nehemiah 2:11-16). This teaches us the importance of understanding a situation fully before rallying others to action.

When Nehemiah finally presented his vision to the people, he did so with confidence and clarity. He said, "You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace" (Nehemiah 2:17). His words inspired the people, and they responded, "Let us start rebuilding" (Nehemiah 2:18).

Nehemiah's organizational skills shine in chapter 3, where he divides the wall into sections and assigns families and groups to each part. He ensures that people work near their homes, giving them a personal stake in the project. This strategy of breaking a big task into manageable parts and assigning them based on personal connection is a brilliant example of collaborative leadership.

Throughout the project, Nehemiah faced opposition from enemies who tried to discourage and attack the workers. His response was to pray, post guards, and encourage the people, saying, "Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes" (Nehemiah 4:14). He demonstrated that effective collaboration includes both practical action and spiritual encouragement.

Perhaps most impressively, Nehemiah completed this massive project in just 52 days (Nehemiah 6:15). This rapid success was possible because of the collaborative effort he inspired and organized.

For Collaborative Families today, Nehemiah's story offers several key lessons:

1. Start with prayer and align your efforts with God's will.

2. Understand the situation fully before taking action.

3. Communicate your vision clearly and inspirationally.

4. Organize tasks effectively, considering people's strengths and personal connections.

5. Face challenges with a combination of practical action and faith.

6. Encourage one another, especially in the face of opposition.

7. Celebrate your shared achievements.

Nehemiah's leadership style exemplifies the power of collaboration. He didn't try to rebuild the wall alone; instead, he united the people, organized them effectively, and worked alongside them. This collaborative approach not only accomplished a seemingly impossible task but also restored the people's pride and faith.

As a Collaborative Family, you can apply these principles in your own context. Remember Nehemiah's example, whether you're tackling a home project, supporting a family member through a challenge, or working towards a shared goal. Start with prayer, communicate clearly, organize effectively, support each other through challenges, and work together towards your shared vision.

Questions for Reflection:

1. How can your family fully incorporate prayer into your collaborative efforts?

2. In what ways can you break down big family goals into manageable tasks for each member?

3. How can you encourage and support each other when facing challenges in your collaborative efforts?

4. What "walls" in your family or community might God call you to rebuild together?