Daily Reading // Nehemiah 5-9
(Find the daily reading on Pastor Jim’s Blog)
https://jholm5.wixsite.com/pastor-jim-blog
S // SCRIPTURE
Select a verse from today’s reading
Nehemiah 5:14-15 (NKJV) 14 Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year until the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes, twelve years, neither I nor my brothers ate the governor’s provisions. 15 But the former governors who were before me laid burdens on the people, and took from them bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver. Yes, even their servants bore rule over the people, but I did not do so, because of the fear of God.
O // OBSERVATION
Why did this verse get your attention? Make a simple observation from the text
Nehemiah was governor over Jerusalem and the surrounding area. As governor he had power and authority. He could use it for his own benefit but he didn’t.
Nehemiah called those holding large debts over their brothers to forgive those debts. Financial practices like these were forbidden by the Jewish law, but people practiced them anyway. Nehemiah called on it to stop and for people to give up the financial stranglehold they had on their brothers. They said they would stop, and they did!
I think a large part of this success was because Nehemiah modeled it. He didn’t take advantage of his position. He gave up wealth, comfort snd luxury. So when he called on others to give up their claims, they did.
Nehemiah’s motivation was the fear of God. He really believed God watched and cared. He chose to please God above all else.
A // APPLICATION
How can I apply this to my life today?
Leadership isn’t getting all you can from others. It is giving all you can for the sake of others. It is leading by example.
The fact that Nehemiah was able to get wealthy people to give up a portion of their wealth for the good of the community is pretty amazing.
You can’t be selfish and call others to selflessness. You can’t enjoy luxury and expect others to live sacrificially. That is not godly leadership.
Lead by example. What is my example?
P // PRAYER
Express yourself in prayer
Jesus, You have everything to redeem me. Keep me from selfishness. Show me the example I am giving to others. Amen.
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