what Do you Request?

What Do You Request?

Nehemiah 2:1-4 NKJV

[1] And it came to pass in the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, that I took the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had never been sad in his presence before. [2] Therefore the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, since you are not sick? This is nothing but sorrow of heart.” So I became dreadfully afraid, [3] and said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ tombs, lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire?” [4] Then the king said to me, “What do you request?” So I prayed to the God of heaven. 

   Its very instructive that a King of a heathen nation was able to notice the state of his worker. " Why is your face sad, since you are not sick? This is nothing but sorrow of heart.” He was discerning to notice that its not sickness. Some bosses may struggle to recognize or address the personal or professional challenges their employees are facing. This King was different. Failure to notice what the Bible calls, 'the state of your flock'( Prov.27:23 ) could lead to a variety of negative outcomes for the workforce or membership in the church. These may  include reduced productivity, increased stress, and ultimately, higher employee turnover in the work place  or in the church. However, there are steps that can be taken to address these issues and foster a more supportive work environment. You don't have to go to Harvard for these. Neither did the King.

    This is Acts 20:28 " Keep watch over yourselves and the entire flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood". Jesus refers to Himself as the Good Shepherd (John 10:11). This phrase encourages believers to be attentive and proactive in their responsibilities, mirroring God's care for His people. That's the biggest lesson from a heathen King. 

    How do you treat your staff? My Ai reports that some bosses are unaware of how to treat their staff because of: lack of communication, disconnect between leadership and staff,  lack of empathy or emotional intelligence,  focus on staff and metrics etc. The irony is that Ai might not have read our story. Sometimes, just pause and ask: What's your request? You'd be very surprised at the answers. Good morning.