The Earnest Servant

I'm always drawn to Nehemiah's description of Baruch when the walls and gates of Jerusalem were being repaired in the KJV rendering of Nehemiah 3:20:  "After him Baruch the son of Zabbai earnestly repaired the other piece, from the turning of the wall unto the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest."  The NKJV uses "carefully" instead of "earnestly," and "earnestly" seems to better convey the zeal Baruch demonstrated in his efforts.  Of all the workers, Baruch is the only one where an adverb was used to describe how he worked and thus clearly stood out.  The Hebrew word "hara" is only translated "earnestly" on this one occasion, and the Strong's Concordance noted other uses in English as, "kindled (44 times), wroth (13), hot (10), angry (9), displease (4), fret (4), incensed (2) and burn (1).  Baruch was a man on fire, one who attacked the task with fervency and unrivaled earnestness.

Since "earnestly" is not a word spoken often, I also looked up the definition in the 1828 Webster's Dictionary:

EARNESTLY, adverb ern'estly. Warmly; zealously; importunately; eagerly; with real desire.

"Being in an agony, he prayed more earnestly." Luke 22:44.

"That ye should earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints." Jude 1:3.

2. With fixed attention; with eagerness.

"A certain maid looked earnestly upon him." Luke 22:44.

The examples used by Webster from scripture are Jesus agonising earnestly in prayer, how believers are to contend for the faith and the thoughtful, intense stare of a maid at Peter because she recognised him.  Baruch took to the task of repairing a portion of the wall earnestly, though he worked alone.  Many workers are mentioned who teamed up together, and even sons and daughters pitched in as one to make progress.  Whilst it is possible and probable Baruch had many helpers, his earnestness in working was fit to be distinguished as distinct and recorded.  The nobles of the Tekoa did not put their necks to the work of the LORD (Neh. 3:5), but Baruch maintained singular focus to do this work with great effort.  While people day-dreamed about how good it would be to have their portion of the wall built so they could be done and relax, Baruch's earnest labour suggests he would be one who, after finishing his bit, would volunteer to assist others until the whole job was done.

If there was a man besides Christ who laboured for the LORD earnestly in the New Testament, my pick would be Paul.  Like Jesus did not come to be served but to serve and give His life for mankind, Paul worked with his own hands to provide for himself and others so no one could say he was greedy for financial gain or shared the Gospel for profit.  By day he worked sewing tents and all other hours were consumed in labouring in the word and teaching.  As a servant of God he gave an exhortation he followed himself in Colossians 3:22-24:  "Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. ²³ And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, ²⁴ knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ."  Servants of the LORD were not just to work, but work heartily--exceedingly, abundantly even vehemently--as unto the LORD.  Their "secular" job was to be sanctified with the holy aim of serving God himself in their earnest efforts.

Are you a Baruch, believer?  Are you like Paul who obeyed his master according to the flesh in sincerity of heart, fearing God, working heartily as to the LORD on and off the clock?  Paul received wages but he did not set his heart or hopes on them:  he looked to the reward of the inheritance he would receive as a servant of Jesus Christ.  Baruch repaired earnestly, not to impress the high priest or Nehemiah who watched him, but did the work of the LORD as if the success of the whole project depended upon him.  It was God's work He would see done with the help of many willing servants from various backgrounds and skill levels.  Among many men and women Baruch stood out who earnestly repaired, and thus the way he worked made a difference God saw fit to note for our benefit.  Let us be this sort of servant, brothers and sisters, who serve the LORD earnestly knowing He has promised us eternal rewards by His grace.