Nehemiah's Displeasure, and the Question of Changing our Economic Relationships with Others
Why is Nehemiah so upset? Explain should Nehemiah’s example change the way we relate to others with our money? How does this affect the way you think of prosperity and how one goes about becoming prosperous?
Nehemiah asked God to use him to save Jerusalem. God answer his prayer and he returns to Jerusalem and made governor and begins to rebuild. The wall was built in 52 days with money and supplies given by the people of Jerusalem. Nehemiah encountered many enemies that did not want Jerusalem rebuilt. Nehemiah is upset because in the midst of building the wall of Jerusalem and dealing with those outside of the people of God, he dealt with the morality of the people of God. Men could not feed their families. They mortgaged their property to get money to feed their families. They took loans to pay the taxes on the property. Some had to sell their children in to slavery. They were not able to get their children back because they could not pay the taxes on the property. All were descendants of Jacob, so they were forbidden by law to charge taxes to other Jews. The Jews were not following the law of how to treat fellow Jews. Instead of helping each other they were taking advantage of the people. They sought gain at the loss of others. Nehemiah became angry that the people were taking advantage of each other that he intercedes before God for each of them. He would pray to God passionately because he loved them so. Nehemiah was trying to teach the people that if they didn’t handle their money with the right heart it will affect the will of God in their lives. We should all be givers to the will of God. 1 Corinthians 16:1-4 states “now regarding your question about the money being collected for God’s people in Jerusalem. You should follow the same procedure I gave to the churches in Galatia.2 On the first day of each week; you should each put aside a portion of the money you have earned. Don’t wait until I get there and then try to collect it all at once. 3 When I
Nehemiah asked God to use him to save Jerusalem. God answer his prayer and he returns to Jerusalem and made governor and begins to rebuild. The wall was built in 52 days with money and supplies given by the people of Jerusalem. Nehemiah encountered many enemies that did not want Jerusalem rebuilt. Nehemiah is upset because in the midst of building the wall of Jerusalem and dealing with those outside of the people of God, he dealt with the morality of the people of God. Men could not feed their families. They mortgaged their property to get money to feed their families. They took loans to pay the taxes on the property. Some had to sell their children in to slavery. They were not able to get their children back because they could not pay the taxes on the property. All were descendants of Jacob, so they were forbidden by law to charge taxes to other Jews. The Jews were not following the law of how to treat fellow Jews. Instead of helping each other they were taking advantage of the people. They sought gain at the loss of others. Nehemiah became angry that the people were taking advantage of each other that he intercedes before God for each of them. He would pray to God passionately because he loved them so. Nehemiah was trying to teach the people that if they didn’t handle their money with the right heart it will affect the will of God in their lives. We should all be givers to the will of God. 1 Corinthians 16:1-4 states “now regarding your question about the money being collected for God’s people in Jerusalem. You should follow the same procedure I gave to the churches in Galatia.2 On the first day of each week; you should each put aside a portion of the money you have earned. Don’t wait until I get there and then try to collect it all at once. 3 When I