Nehemiah 5:1-19
Big Idea: Fearing God reverently means stewarding God’s resources faithfully
“If you lend money to any of my people with you who is poor, you shall not be like a money-lender to him, and you shall not exact interest from him. If ever you take your neighbor’s cloak in pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down, for that is his only covering, and it is his cloak for his body; in what else shall he sleep? And if he cries to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.”
– Exodus 22:25-27
“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.”
– 1 Timothy 6:10
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also …. No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one & love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”
– Matthew 6:21, 24
Biblical Stewardship: Acknowledging God as the true owner and provider of all my resources as I invest each of my resources to bring God glory and accomplish His purposes.
Faithful Stewardship Flows From:
1. A Heart Of Loving Obedience (v. 1-13)
“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things, you may abound in every good work.”
– 2 Corinthians 9:8
2. A Heart Of Joyful Generosity (v. 14-19)
“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
– 2 Corinthians 9:7
Stewardship Principles:
1) Just because something is permissible doesn’t mean it is profitable (v. 14-15, 18)
2) Past behavior doesn’t preclude present day obedience (v. 15)
3. The possession of earthly resources is to propel God’s eternal purposes (v. 16-19)
“As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous & ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.”
- 1 Timothy 6:17-19