In the opening chapter of Ezra, we find a powerful picture of God’s people responding to a divine call after seventy years of captivity in Babylon. The temple lies in ruins, yet the Lord moves upon the heart of a pagan king, Cyrus of Persia, to issue a decree that sets the stage for restoration. Through this historic moment, Scripture reveals a timeless truth for every local church: great works for God always require two groups of faithful people working in harmony, those who go and those who stay.
Those That Go
God always calls a group whose hearts He stirs to step out in faith and labour directly on the front lines. In Ezra’s day, the chiefs of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin, the priests, and the Levites felt the divine impulse and rose up to return to Jerusalem. They left homes, businesses, and the relative comfort of life in Babylon to face a ruined city, hostile neighbours, and years of hard building
We see the same principle in the New Testament and in faithful churches today. Some are called to cross oceans as missionaries, to plant churches in difficult places, or to surrender everything for full-time gospel ministry. These are the ones who go. They receive the prayer letters, the recognition, and often the praise, and rightly so, because they have answered the upward call with sacrificial obedience. A church that ceases to send forth labourers has forgotten the very reason Christ established it.
Those That Stay
Yet the work could never advance without another equally vital group, those who remain. Verse four speaks clearly: “And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering.” These faithful stayers strengthened the hands of those who went. They gave generously, prayed fervently, and handled the everyday responsibilities that kept the home base strong.
The stayers are the doctors who work long shifts yet still serve in the church. They are the carpenters, bakers, and labourers who clock out, gather their families, and arrive ready to clean, paint, teach children, run sound, or stock toilet paper. They sweep carpets, scrub toilets, and wash windows so that when Sunday comes, the house of God shines as a testimony. Their quiet faithfulness makes the going possible and keeps the local church alive for the next generation.
Both groups matter deeply to God. When either side misunderstands its role or grows indifferent, the entire work suffers. The goers cannot go without the stayers’ support, and the stayers’ labours lose eternal purpose if no one carries the gospel forward.
Conclusion
Every believer must settle the question: Has God stirred my spirit to go, or has He called me to strengthen those who do? Both callings demand wholehearted devotion. The older generation must continue giving their best while guarding their hearts against criticism and complaint. The younger generation must pick up the mantle with gratitude, staying true to biblical doctrine and the vision passed down to them.
Proverbs 4:23 reminds us, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” What fills our hearts will either fuel unity and sacrifice or breed rebellion and division. May Christ reign supreme in every heart so that gossip turns to praise, bitterness to love, and selfishness to generous giving.
FaithWay Baptist Church stands at a sacred moment. A temple needs rebuilding, souls need reaching, and a testimony must be preserved. Whether God has called you to go or to stay, do it with all your heart. Lock arms across generations, nationalities, and preferences, because we serve the same Saviour and share the same mission.
The light of this ministry must never dim. For the sake of the gospel and for the children watching us, let us be found faithful, those who go and those who stay, until Jesus comes.
