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SACRIFICE, THE CONDITION FOR SUCCESS IN SERVICE
MONDAY, MARCH 2
Nehemiah 7:66-73

Ezra 2:64-70

 

“…all things work together for good

to them that love God…”

 

SACRIFICE, THE CONDITION FOR SUCCESS IN SERVICE
 
The work of the LORD, by God’s ordinance, is not only to be done by God’s chosen children, but also to be supported willingly and freely by them. The first half of the book of Nehemiah gives us the account of the willingness of the people to rise up as the servants of God to build (Neh 2:20). Upon completion of the work, we have a record of the people willingly giving to support and preserve the work. Congregational giving towards the work of God is something that has been part of congregational life from the beginning. Beginning with the freewill offering taken up for the construction of the Tabernacle while in the wilderness, God’s people have through the ages supported and sustained the work of God with their freewill offerings.
 
Some of the chief of the fathers gave (Neh 7:70). The record closes with a summary of the whole congregation of God’s children as well as an account of the offering they gave to the work. Even in Ezra’s list, the record was that “some of the chief of the fathers… offered freely for the house of God to set it up in his place” (Ezra 2:68). Another account said that “some of the chief of the fathers” gave to the work, and another recorded “some of the chief of the fathers” gave into the treasury. And “the rest of the people” gave freely of their gold and silver and “priests’ garments” (Neh 7:71-72). Rarely do we consider generosity as a mark of concern for the progress and protection of God’s work, but it is. At the time of the decree from Cyrus concerning the return and rebuilding of Jerusalem, the king urged those not returning to help those who would be returning. He said, “And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem” (Ezra 1:4). The main purpose for the return was to rebuild “the house of God that is in Jerusalem.” So, though the wall was completed and security enhanced, the work was not yet finished, and the people understood that clearly. The success of the wall would probably encourage them as they pursued the building of the Temple. The provisions would be very necessary for the building of the Temple.
 
THOUGHT: Through our generosity, we participate in God’s work.

PRAYER: Give me grace, Father, to do and give my best for Thy work.

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