Brian Fisher
Grace Bible Church
“Curing the Decay of Disunity”
Nehemiah 5
Nehemiah's determination turned to anger. Attacks from enemies were to be expected, but God's own people hurting one another was reprehensible. The people of the land were called to restore a worshipping community for the glory of God's reputation. How could they do this if some were profiting by the destruction of their brothers? Nehemiah confronted his fellow Israelites, gave them specific directives to remedy the harm they had done, and then he led them by example. He sacrificed for God's people and surrendered his right to personal profit. The result was a unified community, glorifying God together.
Satan attacks creatively and constantly. If external attacks from enemies fail, he will try to destroy the community from the inside out.
Background
The returned exiles lived in difficult times – economically stressful, years of bad crops and shortage of labor. God called them to stretch even further; to rebuild the walls while trying to support their families. Because of external attacks, they couldn’t go home to work. Their wives and children were left at home to bring in the meager harvest. Because of disunity, God’s kingdom work is beginning to falter.
I. The Cause: Selfishness
Definition (Webster’s): concerned excessively or exclusively with oneself; seeking or concentrating on one’s own advantage, pleasure, or well-being without regard for others
First example of selfishness: Adam blamed Eve; Eve had no one to blame but the serpent.
Born selfish; sanctification = more concerned about God and others than self
II. The Consequences (Symptoms)
– 5:1-5
A. Some horde, while others are harmed
Four groups of people referenced by Nehemiah:
1. v2 – owned no land; lived off wages as laborers. Work on wall unpaid, dependent on the help of other Jews. Without help, became destitute.
2. v3 - families who owned some land but because of famine, were having to buy grain and were having to mortgage their homestead to do so. Losing their ability to produce wealth and pay back loans.
3. v4 - families who owned some land, could not pay king’s tax on it, and were using their children as collateral to borrow money for the tax.
4. Wealthy; had enough to eat; had enough to loan money and goods to others; taking slaves, taking land
B. Resentment and conflict – 5:1 (“outcry” as when Egyptian army approached)
Gal. 5:13-15
Disunity weakens entire community. Unity brings strength.
Irony for those with an abundance
Think they are better off by taking; become isolated from rest of community; could have benefited from a strong community
Isolation is one of Satan’s strongest strategies; divide and conquer
“He who oppresses the poor to make more for himself Or who gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.”
—Proverbs 22:16
“For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it.”
—Mark 8:35
III. The Cure:
A. Become preoccupied with God – 5:9, 15
Fear of the Lord; worship – generous God; accountability to God
Behavior bringing Him dishonor
“The remarkable thing about fearing God, is that when you fear God, you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God, you fear everything else.”
—Oswald Chambers
Nehemiah: No fear of enemies
“The fear of the Lord leads to life, and he who has it will abide in satisfaction; he will not be visited with evil”
—Prov.19:23, NKJV
B. See ourselves as ONE – 5:6-8 (BROTHERS)
“All men are created equal.” Biblical principle. What gives each person dignity is creation in the image of God.
All have the same father (Adam and Eve) and all have the same God
1 Cor. 12:20-26
Eph. 5:28 – to care for my wife is to care for myself
Gal. 6:10
To care for the body of Christ is to care for myself
There is nothing God would not do for us; His children
C. Treat others with justice – 5:9-13
Against Law to charge interest – Ex. 22:25-27; Lev. 25:35-37; Dt. 23:19-20
D. Go beyond justice to generosity
1. “I didn’t take what was rightfully mine to take” – 5:14-16
Governor’s portion of food was his right
5:16; Building his portfolio
Acts 20:33-35; 1 Cor. 9
Used his position and his wealth to help the people, not build his personal empire.
Mark 10:45
“A cross stands in the way of spiritual leadership, a cross upon which the leader must consent to be impaled”
—J. Oswald Sanders
2. “I gave away what was rightfully mine to keep” – 5:17-19
5:18; Not “prepared for me” but “prepared at my expense”
He even shared with others out of his own expense
Estimated that this would have fed 500 people. “Open house” all the time or shared the leftovers with wall workers. Also responsible to entertain dignitaries passing through
Nehemiah called others to keep the Law; he went beyond the Law
Conclusion
How do I develop a heart that cares more about God and others than myself?
1. Meditate on the goodness and holiness of God; surrender to Him