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HINDRANCES AND CHALLENGES TO SERVICE (VI)
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6
Nehemiah 5:6-13

Ephesians 5:8-14

 

“Proving what is acceptable

unto the Lord.”

 

HINDRANCES AND CHALLENGES TO SERVICE (VI)
 
Is it possible to be godly and prosperous? It seems impossible to “make it” in the world without compromising on principles of life. Is it necessary to use nefarious means in order to progress in life? Just like in the times of Nehemiah, godly examples (as presented by Nehemiah) went largely unnoticed, but the ways of the world were widely public. This continues to be so today, partly because godly ways are not publicised since those who practise them do not do so “to be seen of men” but do them silently and secretly because they are done for God “which seeth in secret.” Principles that govern life and relations presented in the Bible are timeless and practical, and ought to be the principles by which we choose to live.
 
I pray you, let us leave off this usury. Restore, I pray you, to them even this day (Neh 5:10-11). Though we live in this world, we are not of this world. And we must not be bound to follow, or adapt to, the ways of this world. As Paul exhorted, we ought to “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them” (Eph 5:11). Not only was the action of the nobles and rulers inconsistent with the Laws of God, it also aided the cause of the enemies of God as it added to “the reproach of the heathen our enemies” (Neh 5:9). Nehemiah thus called for correction and change after setting up himself as an example. His appeal to them was “worldly gain is not worth eternal ruin” or as Jesus put it: “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matt 16:26). “Let us leave off this usury” was Nehemiah’s appeal. It was an appeal that highlighted that compassion has more value than profit, and that there was the choice of loaning of food and money to the poor without “making a killing” from it. Paul’s injunction to the Romans (Rom 14:16-17) gives us a principle by which to govern our choices. He said, “Let not then your good be evil spoken of: For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” Do not devalue a brother’s life for your profit, nor degrade the poor for your gain.
 
THOUGHT: God’s children apply and use godly and lawful means.

PRAYER: Help me, Father, to resist sinful and worldly ways in life.

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