Today’s sermon was inspired by the scripture Nehemiah 5:1-6.
In addition to the physical building, there is need for a spiritual rebuilding. The poor were being exploited by the leaders charging interest. There came a great cry. God hears our cries. Isaiah 59:1.
We live in a culture that is greedy. We have to learn to be content and not seek more over seeking to give to help others. We brought nothing into this world, and we can take nothing out. 1 Timothy 6:10. We are not to be haughty in our wealth. 1 Timothy 6:17.
God wants us to increase our status of giving, not our status of living. 1 Timothy 6:18-19. It is a Christian process to give. Acts 2:43-45.
What you are giving may be the answer to someone else’s prayer.
This is when we are generous givers:
1. Give away more than you spend on luxuries like automobiles, vacations.
2. You view your resources as tools to do good works for the kingdom so that God is glorified.
3. You are more blessed when you give than receive.
He who knows the right thing and doesn’t do it, to him it is sin. James 4:17. Fear of God is a key to keep you doing right
Even if someone isn’t a good steward and doesn’t take care of the gifts, we don’t get to choose. God is the judge and he calls us to be generous.
I chose this song for today: Everlasting God!
Verses for TodayNehemiah 5:1-6:14 NIV
Nehemiah Helps the Poor
5 Now the men and their wives raised a great outcry against their fellow Jews. 2 Some were saying, “We and our sons and daughters are numerous; in order for us to eat and stay alive, we must get grain.”
3 Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards and our homes to get grain during the famine.”
4 Still others were saying, “We have had to borrow money to pay the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards. 5 Although we are of the same flesh and blood as our fellow Jews and though our children are as good as theirs, yet we have to subject our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but we are powerless, because our fields and our vineyards belong to others.”
6 When I heard their outcry and these charges, I was very angry.
Lord, help me to be mindful of the needs of others and help me to give generously of my resources.
