Be Careful
Griffith Baptist Church – 10/12/08
P.M. Service
Text: Nehemiah 5:1-13
Key verse: Nehemiah 5:9 - Also I said, It is not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies?
Premise: Our testimony before others is often seen in how we treat other Christians, and we should never take advantage of each other.
The Introduction
As a schoolboy, I worked with my father during the summer months. Each morning we stopped to pick up the early edition of the newspaper at a small grocery store.
One morning when we got to work, my father found that by mistake he had taken two newspapers instead of one. He first thought of paying the man the extra price the next morning, but then after a moment’s consideration he said, “I had better go back with this paper. I don’t want the man at the store to think I’m dishonest.” He got in his car, drove back to the store, and returned the paper.
About a week later, someone stole money from the grocery store. When police pinpointed the time it occurred, the grocer remembered only two people being in the store at the time—and one was my father. The grocer immediately dismissed my father as a suspect, saying, “That man is really honest. He came all the way back here just to return a newspaper he took by mistake.” The police then focused their investigation on the other man, who soon made a full confession. My father’s honesty made a big impression on that non-Christian storeowner, and on me.
Does your Christian walk square with your Christian talk? Is your honesty above question’
Our Daily Bread, March-May, 1998, p. for April 15
The Scenario:
• The people are working are upset because their brethren have taken advantage of them – 1-5
o First, the people face a food shortage. They said they needed to get grain for food to keep themselves and their families alive (v. 2). The work on the wall hindered their tending their crops. And this crop failure was called a famine.
o Second, others had grain (buying it from others), but to get it they had to mortgage their fields… vineyards, and homes (v. 3).
o Third, others, not wanting to mortgage their property, had to borrow money from their Jewish brothers to pay property taxes to King Artaxerxes (v. 4). This problem was compounded by the fact that they were charged exorbitant interest rates by their own Jewish brothers.
o This led to a fourth problem. To repay their creditors they had to sell their children into slavery (v. 5; cf. Ex. 21:2-11; Deut. 15:12-18). This of course left them in a hopeless state. (BKC)
• Nehemiah’s First Response – 6-7a
o Nehemiah’s initial response to all this was deep anger.
o His intense emotion was directed at certain people’s selfishness, greed, and insensitivity.
o Some people were hurting and suffering, and those who should have been the most compassionate (the nobles and officials) were most guilty of exploitation.
o Though Nehemiah’s anger was certainly righteous indignation, he did not take immediate action. Spending time reflecting on the problem enabled him to cool down, to see the facts in proper perspective, and to decide on a course of action (v. 7a).
• Nehemiah’s Action – 7b-11
o First, he rebuked those who were violating God’s command not to charge their own people interest (cf. Ex. 22:25; Lev. 25:35-38; Deut. 23:19-20). Money could be loaned (Deut. 15:7-8) but not to gain interest from another person’s distresses. (v. 7b)
o Second, calling a large meeting, Nehemiah pointed out the inconsistencies of their behavior compared with what he and others in exile had done personally to help their brothers. (v. 8)
o Also God’s reputation was at stake. (v. 9)
o Nehemiah cites himself as an example of lending without charging interest. (v. 10)
o He exhorts them to restore everything to them. (v.11)
o Interest was to be returned to the people as well. (v. 11)
• The Response of the Nobles and Rulers (see v. 7) – 12-13
o They said that they would comply and do as he requested. (v. 12a)
o He makes them take an oath as a precaution against lying (v. 12b)
o Shaking out the folds of his robe (cf. Paul’s action in Acts 18:6), which served as pockets, he asked that God similarly shake out of His house… every person who failed to keep his oath. This gesture indicated rejection, something like shaking the dust off one’s feet (Matt. 10:14; Acts 13:51). (v. 13)
(The above is taken from The Bible Knowledge Commentary, pp. 683-684)
Transition Statement: Being careful of our testimony before others, we need to first notice what the enemy of the believer is all about.
Body
1. The Enemy of the Believer
A. Concerning Satan and the World
i. Satan
a. 1 Peter 5:8 - Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
b. Satan is no friend to the believer and desires to confuse and discourage you
ii. The World
a. Colossians 4:5 – Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.
b. The world watches silently for your life to match your words
• Conduct is greater than conversation (walk the talk)
• Character is greater than compromise (Nehemiah did not compromise what was right)
B. Is watching and waiting
i. Watching for signs of Jesus in you
ii. Watching to see what the value is in what you believe
iii. Waiting for you to cross the line somewhere and mess up
iv. Waiting for the opportunity to accuse – Revelation 12:10 - And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
Transition Statement: Second, what is the evidence of the believer that will keep us from bringing reproach on the name of Christ.
2. The Evidence of the Believer
A. In Sharing
i. One Saturday, as is the custom at the Erickson house in Peoria, IL, Ken Erickson’s wife cleaned out leftovers from the refrigerator. She gave the one remaining portion of tortellini to their 6-year-old son, Jeremy. Their 8-year-old son, Matthew, also wanted some, so bickering ensued. After several unsuccessful attempts to mediate the dispute, Ken decided on a theological approach. Hoping to convince Jeremy to share his portion with Matthew, he said, “Jeremy, what would Jesus do in this situation?” Jeremy immediately responded, “Oh, Dad, He would just make more!” SOURCE: Paul Decker in "Do We Have Enough for Dinner?" on www.sermoncentral.com.
ii. We should never . . .
a. Charge interest to each other when lending money – Psalms 15:5 - He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.
b. Take advantage of others by making them feel obligation to us except to pay back what is owed
c. On the other end, when we borrow from one another, pay it back as soon as possible.
iii. When we are able to provide, we should - Proverbs 3:27-28 - 27Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. 28Say not unto thy neighbor, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee
iv. The command of Christ - Luke 3:11 – He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.
v. The mark of the early church - Acts 2:44 – And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
vi. Giving to those in need - Romans 12:13 – Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
vii. Sharing burdens - Galatians 6:2 - Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
B. In Praying
i. The greatest privilege is prayer
ii. What we are told to do concerning each other in prayer:
a. Intercession (praying on behalf of others) commanded - 1 Timothy 2:1 – I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
b. This certainly is part of doing good for other Christians - Galatians 6:10 - As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
c. It is the command of Scripture connected with our good works - James 5:16 - Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed
iii. See also 1st Thes.5:17; 5:25.
C. In Caring
i. The kids had talked Mom into getting a hamster They promised to take care of their pet, whom they named “Danny.” Within two months, though, Mom was taking care of Danny. One day Mom decided enough was enough; Danny would be given to a new owner. She called the kids together to tell them. One child said, “I’ll miss him. He’s been around here a long time.” The other child remarked, “Maybe he could stay if he ate less and wasn’t so messy.” Mom was firm, “It is time to take Danny to a new home.” “Danny?” the kids wailed, “We thought you said Daddy.” SOURCE: Positive Living, Sept/Oct 1995, p 39.
ii. To keep the body of Christ strong and healthy - 1 Corinthians 12:25 – That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
iii. Exercising the same care for others as for ourselves - Philippians 2:4 – Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
iv. Sharing in victories and sorrows - Romans 12:15 – Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
v. Holding others up that are weaker - Romans 15:1 – We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
D. In Conversation
i. Be careful what you say. I read of a minister who was visiting one of his members. The lady of the house was trying to impress him about how devout she was by pointing out the large Bible on the bookshelf and talking in a very reverential way of it as "the Word of God". Her young son interrupted the conversation, "Well, if that’s God’s book we better send it back to him because we never read it!"
ii. How we should be with one another - Colossians 3:16 – Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
iii. How we should be with the world - Psalms 37:30-31 – 30The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment. 31The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.
iv. Your mouth echoes your heart - Matthew 12:35 – A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
v. What our mouth should be doing all the time - Ephesians 4:29 – Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
vi. See also Deu 6:6,7; Deu 11:19; 1Ch 16:24; Psa 40:9,10; Psa 45:2; Psa 66:16; Psa 71:15-18,23,24; Psa 78:3,4; Psa 105:2; Psa 119:13,46; Pro 10:21; Pro 15:4,7; Pro 16:21-24; Pro 22:17,18; Pro 25:11,12; Ecc 10:12; Mal 3:16-18; Luk 4:22;
Conclusion:
How do you treat other Christians?
How does the world hear and see you talk to and about others, especially those in the body of Christ?
The world notices more than you think they do.
