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“Reacting to Ridicule“

Nehemiah 4:1-6

Be assured that whenever you endeavor to promote the Lord’s Kingdom, ridicule and resistance will arise from somewhere, sometimes within the church, sometimes outside the church.  Satan and his legions incited worldly people to nail to a Cross the greatest, most powerful, loving preacher that ever has been, or ever will be.  Jesus even warned His disciples, “A servant is not greater than his Master; if they persecuted Me, they will persecute you” (John 15:18).

Consider:  (a) Jesus was about to raise a young girl from the dead, and we are told, “They laughed and ridiculed Him” (Mark 5:40). Who do suppose was behind the laughing and ridicule?  (b) At His trial, the men held Him, blind-folded Him, made fun of Him, beat Him, and mocked Him (Luke 22:63-65).  Who do you suppose was behind all this?  (c) While hanging on the Cross, they laughed saying, “He saved others, but He can’t save Himself!” (Matthew 27:42).  Who do you suppose was behind all this?

How did Jesus handle these situations?  He just endured it.  There is no secret formula for getting rid of the pain caused by ridicule — we just endure it.  What did Nehemiah do when ridiculed?  He just endured it like a man of God. Likewise, Paul admonishes us to, “Stand firm in the faith, be strong, act like men” (1Corinthians 16:13).  In Psalm 37:12-15 we read, “Tho the wicked plot against the righteous, the day is coming when the Lord will laugh at the wicked and their sword will pierce their own hearts.”

When people have a mind/heart to work, things will get done (Nehemiah 4:6).  Satan may throw the prospect of danger, debt, discouragement, or even division in our path, but, if the people want to do the Lord’s work, they will do it.  However, be assured that Satan will not just sit back and watch us build up the Kingdom/church of our Lord in any community.  Keep in mind tho, that Satan is an “already defeated enemy” (cf. Matthew 25:41).  Therefore, don’t let ridicule, threats, fear of rejection, etcetera, from an already defeated opponent, turn you away from doing the Lord’s work.  “Let us rise up and build” (Nehemiah 2:18).  If the Lord’s Kingdom is going to grow in your community, it will be because those who have faith in God will make it happen.

–Toby Miller