Helpful Enemies

Here's an alternate look at the same verses I did my Life Journal on today. It is from Pastor Jim Holm on his New Hope Daily Dose blog and it brings up some good points. Like Jude says in his letter,"For certain men whose condemnation was written about[b] long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord."

SCRIPTURE: Ezra 4:1-2 Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the descendants of the captivity were building the temple of the Lord God of Israel, they came to Zerubbabel and the heads of the fathers’ houses, and said to them, "Let us build with you, for we seek your God as you do; and we have sacrificed to Him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us here."

OBSERVATION: News Flash: Some people can't be trusted.
The enemies came and said, "Let us help." Zerubbabel and the leaders didn't get sucked into their trap.
The enemies knew that the best way to destroy this work was from the inside. Get inside on the team and destroy it from the inside out. A destructive worker on teh team is far more destructive and distracting than those who are known enemies on the outside. The leaders were very wise in not accepting their help. They still caused trouble, but not as much as they would have caused on the inside.

APPLICATION: Not everyone who says, "I want to help" should be allowed to help. Those who are allowed to help, who are part of the team, should not be allowed to distract or hinder the work.
Paul said that wolves will come in among you in sheep's clothing trying to cause problems from the inside. For this reason a leader should always be on guard and watchful, not just of those who pose a threat from outside, but even more for those who pose a threat from the inside.

PRAYER: Good Shepherd, be watchful over Your people. Empower those who are genuine in their desire to help. Expose those who pose a threat.

Thanks Jim, keep it up!