By Lisa Wilmore
Scripture Reading: Now the men and their wives raised a great outcry against their fellow Jews. Some were saying, “We and our sons and daughters are numerous; in order for us to eat and stay alive, we must get grain.” Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards and our homes to get grain during the famine.” Still others were saying, “We have had to borrow money to pay the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards. 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” (Nehemiah 5:1-5 NIV).
My Dear Friends,
Amidst the current events in our country, it is crucial that we stay aware and avoid becoming entangled in a system that seeks to disregard and oppress the poor. Interestingly, God’s concern for the poor is written in almost every book of the Bible. The way we help those in need should reflect God’s love and concern. So, we must beware of injustices that disgrace other believers and resist the desire to not become a part of the rhetoric that keeps them oppressed and broken.
In the Book of Nehemiah, during the tenure of rebuilding Jerusalem’s wall, the people had become oppressed due to the lack of food, high debt, and inflated prices for their basic needs. In fact, the Jewish brethren had established profitable businesses and used their brothers and sisters to become rich. Not only were the brethren oppressing their own people, but the people were distressed due to being taxed by foreign governments and kings.
In our aforementioned Text, the people complained to Nehemiah, and Nehemiah responded. Nehemiah was angry and grieved when he heard the people’s cry. How will you respond when you see people, who are fellow believers in Christ being taken advantage of? What would be your actions when the “poor” church people are struggling to make ends meet yet others are thriving from their weaknesses?
Nehemiah’s response was not one that pointed fingers or attacked the accused, rather, “without apology, declared that what they were doing was a clear violation of God’s Word, actions that should cause them to fear the judgment of God” (Dr. John W. Carter: The Book of Nehemiah: The Restoration of a Nation, 65). It is clear that the world does not care about the poor. However, it is our responsibility to help when Christian brothers or sisters suffer.
A point to remember, “Those who give to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses” (Prov. 28:27 NIV).Jesus Saves!
