The Interest of Others

“What you are doing is not right.  You are demanding interest from your own countrymen.”  Nehemiah 5: 10,7

In the middle of working on the wall, Nehemiah had to pause and handle some people problems—issues that would never have come up if God’s Law had been lived out.  God’s people had been instructed to take care of each other and not take advantage of each other, but around Jerusalem, just the opposite was taking place.  The difficulties of living in a war-torn land under a foreign king’s command had created desperate times for many Jewish families, and the ones in charge were charging for their charity.

“Now the men and their wives raised a great outcry against their Jewish brothers”(Neh 5:1).  Those with lots of kids needed lots of food, and some were mortgaging fields, vineyards, and homes to get grain(Neh 5:2-3).  Others had sold their sons and daughters as slaves to pay property taxes and had no way of buying them back because of the liens they had taken out to buy lunch(Neh 5:4).

When Nehemiah heard the charges, he got charged up.  “When I heard their outcry and these charges, I was very angry”(Neh 5:6), but he held his tongue until he had used his head.  “I pondered these things in my mind and then accused the nobles and officials”(Neh 5:7).  Nehemiah accused them of charging interest to their countrymen and of selling their brothers to the Gentiles.  At his indictment, “they kept quiet, for they could find nothing to say”(Neh 5:8).

They had no defense, for God had written the rules in black and white.  “Do not charge your brother interest, whether on money or food or anything else that may earn interest”(Deut 25:5)  “If one of your countrymen becomes poor and is unable to support himself among you, help him…Do not take interest of any kind from him, but fear your God, so that your countrymen may continue to live among you”(Lev 25:35).  The people of Jerusalem knew this Law but were choosing to ignore this Law to make a little—or a lot—of profit. 

Nehemiah didn’t pull punches or try to be politically correct when he spoke the truth—“What you are doing is not right” (Neh 5:9).  He immediately demanded that the leaders hand back the property, houses, and interest they had earned from their loans.  The nobles and officials took an oath to return what they had taken, and they did.  “At this, the whole assembly said, ‘Amen,’ and praised the Lord.  And the people did as they had promised”(Neh 5:13).

This passage is not meant to create a debate on the morality of interest in modern times, but God’s principles still apply.  No one should be taken advantage of—especially when they’re down and there’s no way out unless you step in.  When that happens, especially with other Christians, the question should never be, “What can I get out of someone?” but instead, “How can I help someone out?”  If we’re not careful, we can “exact usury” in many ways besides the monetary. 

In dealing with others, it’s best to remember that interest out of someone is never as good as interest in someone.

“Each of you should look not only to your own interest, but also to the interests of others.” Philippians 2:4

 

Battle Plans

“We prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.”  Nehemiah 4:9

“The Christian life is not lived on a playground but a battleground,” a wise preacher once said on Sunday, and Monday morning proved him right.  Actually, by the time we reached the benediction, the enemy was at us full blast, hurling frustrations and launching distractions—anything to lower and limit our effectiveness in building God’s kingdom.  To not be deterred or dismayed, we need to be aware of the enemy’s tactics and be prepared for His attacks. 

When Nehemiah was working on Jerusalem’s wall, the assault began with ridicule.  “What are those feeble Jews doing? Can they bring stones back to life from those heaps of rubble?” an angry Sanballat snorted to his associates and Samaria’s army(Neh. 4:2).  Then his evil sidekick, Tobiah, joined in the jibes.  “What they are building—if even a fox climbed up on it, he would break down their wall of stones!”(Neh. 4:3) 

Nehemiah’s response to this derision was not to defend himself to his accusers, but to pray for God’s action against them.  “Hear us, O God, for we are despised.  Turn their insults back on their own heads”(Neh. 4:4).  And he kept on building.  “So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart”(Neh. 4:6).

When the opposition got wind that “the repairs to Jerusalem’s walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry”(Neh. 4:7).  Their verbal threats escalated toward physical violence as they plotted to fight, so Nehemiah and his men “prayed to our God and posted a guard”(Neh. 4:9).  Nehemiah “stationed people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places” and then delivered a stirring speech to his countrymen.  “Don’t be afraid of them.  Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes!”(Neh. 4:14).

When the enemy found out that Nehemiah had found them out, they stepped back for a bit, and the Jews “returned to the wall, each to his own work”(Neh. 4:15).  However, from that time on, the people “did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other”(Neh. 4:17).  Sounds like a good strategy.  The assaults and attacks of the enemy will be constant and clever.  We must “put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes”(Eph. 6:11).  We should live each day with the tools of our trade in one hand and the “sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” in the other(Eph. 6:17).  Brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, wives, and homes are depending on us, and our God is great and awesome!

Life on earth is not recess.  It’s war.  The gates of hell will not prevail, but we cannot get lax and lose ground.  Pray to God, post a guard, and pick up your sword.  “Our God will fight for us!” (Neh. 4:20).

House of the Heroes

I haven’t yet made it to Cooperstown, but one day I hope to visit baseball’s Hall of Fame and honor the game’s greatest players.  (I’m just waiting until Dale Murphy is inducted!)   There in the hallowed hallways of America’s Pastime, fans can find Lou Gehrig’s locker, Curt Schilling’s blood-stained sock, and Babe Ruth’s first Yankees road jersey.  The motto of the museum is ”Preserving History, Honoring Excellence, Connecting Generations,” and over 15 million visitors have been amazed and inspired by the artifacts, exhibits, and accomplishments of  baseball’s greats throughout the years.

Whether in athletics, academics, the arts, the military, or the making of a nation, heroes are important, and monuments to help us remember what they’ve done certainly have their place—even in war-torn Jerusalem.  As Nehemiah and company repaired the city’s wall, we find that the “ruler of a half-district of Beth Zur, made repairs up to a point opposite the tomb of David, as far as the artificial pool and the House of the Heroes”(Neh 3:16). The House of the Heroes.  How cool is that??

We’re not told who was honored there, but surely the museum housed a replica of Abraham’s altar where he had raised the knife to sacrifice his son, Isaac, a painting of Joseph running from the exciting and alluring temptation of Potiphar’s wife, a life-size statue of Moses holding the 10 Commandments, (you could probably purchase fake Moses staffs  in the souvenir shop), a short documentary of Joshua’s seven-day march around Jericho,  and reproductions of Gideon’s fleece, Samson’s hair, and the tent peg Jael drove through Sisera’s temple as rested in her tent.  Perhaps one plaque noted Hannah’s commitment to give God her only son, and another detailed his decades of service to God and country.  Without doubt, David’s sling shot from his battle with Goliath was on display, likely right beside the sword and bow given to him by his loyal friend Jonathan.  An entire wall would have been dedicated to the astounding exploits of David’s Mighty Men, and framed blueprints for God’s temple segued to the treasures of Solomon’s kingdom.  Hopefully, the righteous reigns and revivals of Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, and Josiah were celebrated, and the courage of Joash’s aunt, Jehosheba, to rescue him from his murderous grandmother was remembered.  Ah, what a museum it must have been!  The House of the Heroes.

Physically and spiritually, we need those places and those people that help us preserve history, honor excellence, and connect generations.  Though no one is perfect, we need heroes who have gone before us—walking in faith, trusting even in fear, and receiving grace in failure.  We should honor men like William Tyndale, who gave his life to get God’s Word written in English, and Martin Luther, whose belief in faith alone led to spiritual reformation and revolution.  We should celebrate the courage and commitment of missionaries like Hudson Taylor, Adoniram Judson, and David Livingston.  And we should acclaim the sacrificial lives and constant prayers of parents, grandparents, pastors, and friends who have cheered us on, prayed us through, and given us examples to follow.

Take some time to walk the halls of your own House of Heroes.  Be amazed and inspired at the grace of God and the goodness of God.  And live so others can look up to you.

 

 

 

Home Improvement

“Benjamin and Hasshub made repairs in front of their house; and next to them, Azariah made repairs beside his house.”  Nehemiah 3:23

When the residents of Jerusalem decided to get to work, some headed across town to help while those who lived near the wall simply stepped out the front door.  “Benjamin and Hasshub made repairs in front of their house; and next to them, Azariah made repairs beside his house…Above the Horse Gate, the priests made repairs, each in front of his own house.  Next to them, Zadok made repairs opposite his house”(Neh 3:23,29). 

All of the wall had fallen, and progress could be made at any point, but the people realized that it didn’t make much sense to head down the street when you stumble over rubble in your own driveway, so they began rebuilding at home.  Sometimes that’s the hardest place to start.

If we’re honest, we often find ourselves more patient with an employee or kinder to the neighbor’s kids than to those who share the same address.  Under our roofs, the elements of proximity, personalities, and permanence synthesize with schedules and stresses in a blend both delightful and difficult.  Sometimes it’s simpler and more immediately satisfying to spend our energy and efforts in work projects or personal recreation, but while our influence and involvement in civic, community, and even church activities are important, if God has given us a family, we must focus on them first to build a legacy that will last.

Please don’t think I’m preaching from a pedestal of perfection.  I’ve already blown it several times today and have had to apologize profusely for my attitude and actions.  It’s tough to make the right choices with our time and in our tone, to be selfless and self-controlled, to love well and listen well, to guide and to give with wisdom and grace, but when we are willing for our minds and our hearts to stay at home, focused on God and those He has given us to love and live with, our relationships are built stronger and sweeter and our families overflow with God’s goodness and grace.

Don’t head across town when you need to stay home.

The ones you live with need you most and love you best.

Get busy building.

 

God's Construction Site

“Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests went to work and rebuilt the Sheep Gate.”  Nehemiah 3:1   

Sometimes it’s just time to get to work, and the flurry of activity at Jerusalem’s wall finds several things worth noting.  To start with, the spiritual leaders stepped up first.  “Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests went to work and rebuilt the Sheep Gate”(Neh 3:1).   I vividly remember when the staff at my college church pledged a double tithe toward the new sanctuary, when the man I didn’t recognize scraping sodden ceiling tiles off school desks after a storm turned out to be the new Methodist preacher, when the guy I saw down aisle three at the grocery wearing jeans and a sweaty t-shirt was my senior pastor grabbing lunch during a home ministry remodel, and when the wizard with the chainsaw during the hurricane relief was an out-of state pastor and friend who had come down quickly and brought a crew.  When God’s leaders are willing to get a little dirty—emotionally, physically, and financially—God’s people are much more willing to follow.  Thank you, guys.

But the spiritual leaders weren’t the only ones stepping up and stacking stones, the social leaders worked as well. Three men who ruled different local districts and five who ruled half-districts rebuilt and repaired parts of the wall. Those in positions of authority didn’t just stand around giving instructions; they got involved heartily and heavily.  The rotten apples in the bunch were the leaders from Tekoa.  “The next section was repaired by the men of Tekoa, but their nobles would not put their shoulders to the work”(Neh 3:5).  In short, they thought they were too good for God’s work, and though those haughty nobles would not appreciate such phrasing about their lack of participation, the picture of Jesus folding a filthy towel after washing His disciples’ feet leaves no other option.

It’s important to point out that none of the laborers working on Jerusalem’s wall were trained construction workers or professional contractors.  On the contrary, their occupations were anything but.  They were priests, Levites, perfume makers, merchants, goldsmiths, guards, and mayors—all led by a wine taster.  And since a project of such magnitude demanded all hands on deck, even those normally not allowed got involved.  “Shallum, ruler of a half-district of Jerusalem, repaired the next section with the help of his daughters”(Neh 3:12).  You go, girls!! 

The great thing about God’s work is that though it’s often dirty, it’s usually not too difficult.  We must simply be willing to bend down, reach into the rubble, pick up a rock—or a life, knock off the dirt, and set it back in place.  Yes, knuckles will get scraped, nails will break, and grime will be ground into your skin and your soul, but little is more lovely on heaven or earth than God’s people of various sizes, shapes, talents, treasures, and training coming together around God’s work for God’s glory.  “In Christ the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.  And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit”(Eph 2:21-22).

God’s work awaits. 

Get busy building!

 

Keep Building

“They mocked and ridiculed us.  ‘What is this you are doing?’ they asked.”  Nehemiah 2:19

It’s sad but true that sometimes when we do something good someone gets mad.  Sad but not surprising.  The devil has always been against the divine, and unfortunately he doesn’t have to look far to find those willing to raise a ruckus against what’s right.

Often the ones opposed are closely involved, but occasionally they’re just close-by busybodies like the men who rose up against the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s wall.  “Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official…were very much disturbed that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites”(Neh 2:10).

Their reasons for opposition were selfish and sinful. They wanted the Jews to stay down and defenseless, and they wanted to be the big boys on the block. The arrival of Nehemiah threatened their façade of power and authority, so they tried to tear down his work with their words.  “They mocked and ridiculed us.  ‘What is this you are doing?’ they asked”(Neh 2:19).  They made fun of and tried to make a fool of Nehemiah and his plan, and when that didn’t work, they questioned his motives by insinuating he was leading a rebellion.

Often silence is the best response to ridicule (“When they hurled insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats” 1 Peter 2:23), but if you must answer back, point up.  “I answered them by saying, ‘The God of heaven will give us success”(Neh 2:20). When we do what we do not for earth’s dust but heaven’s delight we can handle opposition with optimism and without discouragement.  Nehemiah informed the men that this wall was God’s work, that he and those with him were God’s workers (“We his servants will start rebuilding.” Neh 2:20), and that the ones against it had no business even being part of the conversation (“But as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it.” Neh 2:20).

Those against the good will always be around, but don’t let them get you down.

Opposition is just another opportunity for God to show His glory.

Keep building.

The Big Job

“After staying there three days, I set out during the night with a few men.” Nehemiah 2:12

Sometimes the day looms large, and the task at hand is overwhelming—even when you know the mandate is divine.  So where do you start and what do you do?

Begin by showing up. You can’t do much unless you’re there, so follow Nehemiah’s example—hop on your horse and trot to town. 

When you arrive, assess the situation.  Ignorance might be bliss, but in difficult times, it’s not best. You need to know what you’re dealing with so you can know what needs to be done.  “I went to Jerusalem, and after staying there three days, I set out during the night with a few men”(Neh 2:12).  Nehemiah’s night time ride revealed lots of rubble in lots of places.  The “walls of Jerusalem, which had been broken down, and its gates, which had been destroyed by fire” lay in piles of ruins which were often impassable(Neh. 2:13-14). The scope of damage was extensive, but because Nehemiah didn’t want to stay in the dark, he set out in the dark.

Once you know how much work awaits, speak up, but keep quiet until you’re quite sure.  Nehemiah was a man with a mission, but he didn’t announce his intentions upon arrival.  “I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem…The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, because as yet I had said nothing ”(Neh. 2:11-12).

By not delivering speeches until the damage survey was done, Nehemiah could offer informed leadership to the “priests, nobles, officials, and any others who would be doing the work”(Neh 2:16), and he could urge them to step in with him in confidence. “Then I said to them, ‘You see the trouble we are in…Come, let us rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace”(Neh 2:17).  He told them “about the gracious hand of my God upon me and what the king had said to me”(Neh. 2:19), and they were eager to begin.

When the task at hand is tough and tall, show up.  Assess the situation.  Keep quiet until you’re quite sure.  Then step in with confidence.

With the gracious hand of your God upon you, great works will be done through you.