'' The Loyal Cupbearer''
By: Lynne Conley

Scripture Text: Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud. (Proverbs 16:19 KJV)

Nehemiah was a noble and meek young man. Nehemiah was a Jew, and even though he was rich, he was more favored than all the king’s servants. Nehemiah was a cup-bearer in the palace of Shushan for King Artaxerxes in the twentieth year of his reign. The definition for cup-bearer is: one who has the duty of filling and handing around the cups in which wine is served (Merriam-Webster) Nehemiah’s brother Hanani and several other men came from the land of Judah. Nehemiah was so eager to hear all about the land of his father’s that, when all his duties were done, he asked Hanani and the other men about Jerusalem and all the many Jews who went back to rebuild the temple of the LORD. In earlier times, Nebuchadnezzar and his soldiers had torn the walls down and burned them so that the place looked so desolate, and this being the place where David ruled over God’s precious people. The Jews were depressed and broken by the enemies around them. When Nehemiah heard this news, he wept, and his heart was so heavy. His desire was to see the Jews which were his own people with the prosperity of the land. Nehemiah prayed and fasted, and he had a desire to help his people.  Without the consent of King Artaxerxes, Nehemiah had no hope for helping his people. The king noticed very quickly that Nehemiah wasn’t his normal cheerful self. While he was pouring the wine in the goblet, the king noticed the sad expression on his face. The king wanted to know why he was so sad. Nehemiah told the king all about the Jews. Nehemiah wasn’t alone on this journey; King Artaxexres agreed to send his captains and his soldiers with him. The king gave Nehemiah the letters that he had written. Nehemiah wasn’t going to let anything stop him from rebuilding the walls.  For about three days, Nehemiah rested; during the night he took a few of the soldiers to see the conditions of the city walls. The walls were in a broken-down condition. Nehemiah told the priests and the rulers that God was disappointed to see his people in a depressing place. God answered Nehemiah’s prayers by the rebuilding of the walls. Don't be selfish, you will never go wrong when you put others before yourself.  The proverb cliché: “You win some, you lose some.” We can’t always succeed. We can say this when we haven’t succeeded, we aren’t discouraged! Selfish people aren't happy people; they are grumpy, and moody, most of the time. People that are unselfish are people that are happy, they put others first always. Stay strong friendsJ