RPG Adults
ETHICS FOR SERVICE (I)
LORD’S DAY, JANUARY 4
Nehemiah 2:1-8
Ezra 4:7-24
“Give ye now commandment to
cause these men to cease,…
until another commandment…”
ETHICS FOR SERVICE (I)
Christian service must be guided and based on God’s revelation given in Scripture and, therefore, is governed by biblical principles. The principles by which we live, and the view we espouse in life, are usually reflected in the decisions we make. Chance and circumstances sometimes force us to make certain decisions. If we believe in the Sovereignty of God over all things and circumstances, as well as His providential leading and guidance in all circumstances, then both our life and work ethic will be shaped by this belief.
Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence (Neh 2:1). Nehemiah’s statement presents to us the kind of person that he was. He bore in his heart a great personal burden and had made what would be (under the circumstances he lived in) a grave and life-changing decision. As he awaited God’s leading and opportunity to discharge his heart’s desire to serve God and his fellow men, he still continued with his work in the king’s court and performed his duties diligently. We note that the king he served was the one mentioned in Ezra 4:7, 8 and 11 and was the one who had ordered the work at Jerusalem to cease. The picture given to us in Chapter 2 occurred when Nehemiah was called to perform his duty before the king, which he dutifully did. It was then he gave us the general comment that before this time he had not been “sad in his presence.”
This is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid (Neh 2:2). The king discerned that Nehemiah was troubled and sought to know what it was that warranted Nehemiah bringing his sorrows to his attention. Nehemiah would have every reason to be afraid since the burden he had was one that a decree had been given against (Ezra 4:21). Would his request be seen as political and would Nehemiah risk being seen as treasonous? But Nehemiah carefully approached the king and presented his matter not as a political issue, but a social one, a matter of family honour.
THOUGHT: Trust in God does not exclude tact in life.
PRAYER: (Use Psalm 56:1-4.)