What's in a Name?

One of the things I love about the book of Nehemiah is his listing of the names of those who volunteered to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem in the face of great adversity. At times they had to build with a tool in one hand and a sword in the other. What I love about the names is what it tells us about who they were. No prophets, no mighty men of valor, no nobles--just ordinary people doing extraordinary work for the cause of God. Priests, temple servants, goldsmiths, government workers, perfumers, merchants, a man and his daughters, people from Jericho, men from Gibeon--men of whom we know nothing--except that God called them to the work, and they said, "Yes.". Some did extra work. Some built the walls around their homes. Some worked even though those over them told them not to. It's not as if they would be on a list of people we want to be sure and meet in Heaven. But they should be. Ordinary, "unknown" people doing God's work. They wouldn't be on our list of famous people. But they are on His!
Too often we forget God's love for those doing the work who have no need for, or desire for, the praise of men. But God knows who they are, and He rejoices in their faithfulness. He knows each of us by name. We are his child, and as someone has said--Augustine, I think--He loves each one of us as if we were His only child.
Be faithful in the work. Do the work for the "audience of One." He knows "what you're up to," and He is delighted in you. The more unimportant your work seems to be, the more--according to Paul--necessary you're work is to the success of the kingdom. To the work!