Title: Steps to Stopping Strife Script: Neh. 5
Type: Series Where: GNBC 2-15-15
Intro: So far, as we have worked our way through the book of Nehemiah, we have seen how he has had to work his way through a different challenge in each chapter. In chap. 1 he faced a personal challenge, hearing the situation Jerusalem was faced with..wept and prayed. In chap. 2 his challenge was political, the king asked him what he needed and once again, Nehemiah prayed for direction. In chapter 3, he confronted an administrative challenge and needed to post the right workers with the right skills in the right positions. In chap. 4 Nehemiah was challenged by discouragement. Nehemiah had to rally the workers to do what they were sure could not. As we come to chap. 5 we see a community that is starting to self-destruct due to festering grievances between members of the community. As Christians, we are called to be peacemakers in a sea of strife around us.
Prop: Let’s look to Nehemiah’s example to see steps to take to stop strife.
BG: 1.In today’s passage, Neh. Is facing several matters causing strife. Takes a special man or woman to squarely face strife and attempt to reconcile individuals and right wrongs.
2. Sometimes need to determine what is culturally allowable and what are God’s eternal standards not to be violated.
3. Most organizations and nations fall apart because of opposition and deterioration from within rather than from without. An idea is conceived, gains adherence and grows to fruition. Then after it has served its purpose for a period of time, the work it took to get to that point is taken for granted and often personal aggrandizement corrupts the intended purpose.
Prop: In Neh. 5 we’ll notice 3 steps to take in order to stop strife.
I. 1st Step: Identify the Cause(s) of the Strife. Vv. 1-5
A. Nehemiah’s first priority was to identify the cause(s) of stress in his community.
1. Immediately several individuals consumed by strife come forth.
a. There is a word in v. 1 that sets the tone for the entire chapter. It is the word, “against”. “Against” is one of the words that you can feel the tension mounting, the tempers boiling, the pressure mounting, the horns locking. Is there someone here today that has something “against” someone or an individual who someone has something “against”? YES! Strife is on the way. Then you had better stay awake and take notes, because Nehemiah was where you are and by God’s grace he took the right steps and resolved the matter God’s way.
b. That great old preacher J.Vernon McGee writes, “I had an uncle who never came to know the Lord. My aunt used to weep and say, “Oh, he won’t listen” Do you know why? With her lived a sister, another aunt, and I used to go there sometimes on Sundays for dinner. Do you know what we had for dinner? Roast preacher One of my aunts went to the Methodist church, the other went to the Presbyterian church, and oh, boy, did they try to outdo each other, talking about the preacher and the fights that were going on. I used to watch my uncle. He would just sit there and eat. Then he’d get up to leave and go down to his club for the afternoon. When he would come home in the evening, he wasn’t drunk, but he sure had had several drinks. They never won him to Christ. There are a lot of people not being won today, my friend, because of the strife that is inside the church.
2. Nehemiah realizes there are different factions in this community of strife.
a. Nehemiah tells us that there were essentially 4 different factions that involved in this community crisis: 1. People who owned no land and needed food (v.2). The pop. was growing, food supply was shrinking and was a famine. Working so hard could not even plant. 2. There were landowners who had mortgaged their property so as to purchase food. Inflation was on the rise , people were getting their homes repossessed by moneylenders. 3. Another group complained that the taxes were too high. Folks were having to borrow money simply to be able to pay their taxes! (We know the feeling!) 4. There was the group of wealthy individuals who were exploiting others. These wealthy individuals were making loans at exorbitant rates of interest and taking the poor’s land and even CHILDREN as collateral. Families were being forced to choose between starvation and servitude. When the crops failed due to the famine, the creditors took away their property and sold their children into slavery.
b. Illust: This is a free-bee for anyone here today. Watch out for the present day money lenders causing strife in American families., not the banks or credit unions, but the Pay Day Loans and Check Cashing facilities. The dangers of ‘PAYDAY LOANS’ and ‘CHECK CASHING’ The ads are everywhere, TV, radio, internet, they even come in the mail...they claim fast and easy money...at a VERY HIGH COST. Lenders prey on low-income borrowers with bad credit. There is NO cap to how high your fees may go you may pay up to $20 for every $100 you borrow. If paid weekly your loan “rolls-over” 4 times a month, if paid every two weeks your loan “rolls-over” twice in a month. A $500 loan could cost you $900 after 30 days! After 21 days the company may charge an extra $100 per paycheck until the loan is repaid in full. Loans against your car require that you sign your title over to the lender until your loan is repaid. Car title loans can result in the loss of your car. Annual Interest rates (APR) for these loans can be as high as 500% Hills Bank, 2-3%. Like the money lenders the people of Nehemiah’s time were facing, no friend of yours! Need to repent.
B.
1. Sometimes the cause of strife is very easy to see in a given situation.
a. God’s law was very clearly being violated in this instance. It was easy to see the root of the strife. In Dt. 23:19-20. Jews were required by the Law not to charge interest to own people on money, food, or other vital needs. Also, were never to take another person’s property inheritance and never to take someone else’s children as slaves! Leviticus 25: 23 "The land is not to be sold in perpetuity, because the land belongs to me -you are only foreigners and temporary residents with me."
b. Illust: One of the reason why some individuals go to talk to counselors is because of the perspective the individual may give you in a specific situation. Not that they are necessarily geniuses, but they are from outside of the situation and can see what we sometimes cannot if we are entangled in the mess. A Christian’s perspective is very much determined by his or her spiritual gifts. To the apostle Paul, John Mark was a liability, a man who could not be counted on, and thus a man who should not be taken along on a missionary journey. To Barnabas, whose gift was encouragement, Mark was an opportunity and a challenge. Mark was a man who needed encouragement, and Barnabas was the man to do it, just as he had ministered to Paul (Saul) in the early days of his Christian walk.
2. Identifying the underlying causes of strife requires maturity and discernment.
a. Illust: Being a police officer is one of the hardest jobs in the world. 1 reason, usually when they show up there is a lot of strife going on. Heard a lot of malarkey recently about “evil” cops this and that. Now there may be one bad one in a barrel here and there, but have you ever attempted to put self in their position? Every stop = strife. Every domestic call = strife. Have to wade through and determine who is aggressor and who is victim. Who is lying and who is telling the truth. Not just about emotions. Is about discernment and maturity. That’s the case in our own lives when attempting to determine the causes of strife in our lives or in the lives of others.
b. Discernment in Scripture is the skill that enables us to differentiate. It is the ability to see issues clearly. We desperately need to cultivate this spiritual skill that will enable us to know right from wrong. We must be prepared to distinguish light from darkness, truth from error, best from better, righteousness from unrighteousness, purity from defilement, and principles from pragmatics. Discernment doesn’t come from “The View” or Ellen, or ….Comes from getting to know Jesus Christ through His Word.
C. Applic: Have you successfully identified the cause of strife you are facing?
II. 2nd Step: Follow a Specific Course of Action to Address Issues & Individuals. Vv. 6-13
A. After listening to their complaints in the 1st 5 verses, Nehemiah now takes steps to stop the strife.
1. After listening to the reports, Nehemiah takes time to consider a measured response.
a. Even though Nehemiah was very angry, the Bible says in v. 7 that he took time to “ponder” the charges before he accused the nobles and the officials. You may hear of an injustice and it may set you on fire! However, you and I need to take the time to think beyond the emotions. Very hard in today’s Instagram, Snap Chat, FB & text crazy society where we can react to anything in a moment, Nehemiah gives us a very good example. “PONDER”. We need to shut our mouths, turn off our phones, forget FB, and PRAY first.
b. In translating this section the New English Version of the Bible says: “I mastered my feelings.” Or literally in the Hebrew: “My heart consulted within me.” Instead of just “going off” like a lot of people do in the heat of the moment, Nehemiah paused, took a deep breath, probably prayed, thought about the matter. Prov. 16:32 tells us “It is better to be slow tempered than famous, better to control oneself than control an army.”
2. Strife needs to be confronted, but not emotionally.
a. God made us with emotions. Cannot pretend to not have emotions. Even anger. Nehemiah was angry. Moses got angry when broke tablets in Ex. 32. Jesus got angry when he cleared the temple of the money changers (Lk. 19). Only Jesus, however, can master all of his feelings without becoming inappropriately angry.
b. Illust: As a pastor there can be things that happen that can cause an angry reaction. A while back someone came to me and said: “Pastor, person “X” in your congregation doesn’t like people with a certain skin color.” “Really?” “How do you know that?” “A woman I know who visited your church told me that.” “Really?” “How did she know that?” “Because she didn’t talk nicely to her.” “Really?” “Is this person a Christian?” “No.” “Is this person of trustworthy character?” “Not really.” The accused individual has had you into their home on occasions, have you ever noticed this type of behavior or attitude in the time you have know the accused individual? No. Is there any evidence to think this could be true? “No, but I have to believe my friend.” “Then you are an idiot. Sometimes have to confront those who cause strife.
B. Nehemiah chooses to Publicly confront the Selfish Individuals who had Caused the Strife.
1. Nehemiah publicly rebuked these individuals because it was a nationally occurring sin that demanded rebuking and repentance. This rebuke consisted of 6 different appeals. Many of which we can use when involved in attempting to stop strife.
a. Neh. appealed to their love: reminded them they were robbing their own countrymen. V.7 Christians are to be known by our love. Love should motivate us to cause cessation of strife.
b. Neh. reminded them of God’s redemptive purposes: God had redeemed His people from slavery in Egypt and Babylon. Why in the world should they be enslaving selves?! God has a redemptive purpose in the life of the person(s) causing you or me strife. Need to remember.
c. He appealed to God’s Word: “What you are doing is not right.” (v.9) If you are going to call yourself a Christian you have to live in obedience to God’s Word. God’s Word, not our opinions, can silence the lying tongue.
d. He called on them to remember their witness: v.9b – Although Israel was to be a light to the nations their behavior had become as dark and shady as the nations around them. Christians are to be ethical. Period. We are supposed to act differently at work, at home, how we respond to laws of man. Sometimes a brother or sister needs to be exhorted because something doing, saying, something posting, wearing, whatever, is inappropriate. Illust: 2 months ago a group of African young men coming into the church for the ESL class on a Monday am. I was coming in too and held the door for group of four or five young men. One wearing white baseball cap with the “F” word emblazed across the front in 2 inch metallic letters. Turned in door way. Stuck my finger in face. “You will not wear that filthy hat into this building. Period.” “That’s a filthy, vile, word, not fit to be said or worn.” (At that moment other men started trying to pronounce the word!) Told him to put it in his car where no one would have to look at it. Do you know what those young men did? Thanked me! “Sorry Pas!” “Thank you, Pas!”
e. Nehemiah appealed to his own actions. Vv. 10-11. Nehemiah had lent money and not charged interest. He had integrity and was using his life as a positive example.
f. Finally, Nehemiah appealed to the judgment of God. vv. 12-13. Friend, these Jews were cut to the quick and immediately obeyed God, PTL! They determined to fully obey God and let brothers off the hook. Took an oath to prove that this was a commitment making to God! You know, we live in a society that believes God is going to let everything “slide”. Think can blame all my problems on someone else. No, there is going to be judgment! The countrymen of Nehemiah knew it and repented.
2. What is the Biblical way for Christians to address strife? (Between Christians)
a. In Mt. 18, Jesus gave us the principle of how we are to address strife and contentions in the church. Famous section on “church discipline”. Really it would be better entitled, “Church Restoration”. That is the whole purpose, to bring healing, reconciliation, and restoration. When a sinning believer is rebuked and he turns from his sin and is forgiven, he is won back to fellowship with the body and with its head, Jesus Christ. The goal of church discipline, then, is not to throw people out of the church or to feed the self-righteous pride of those who administer the discipline. It is not to embarrass people or to exercise authority and power in some unbiblical manner. The purpose is to restore a sinning believer to holiness and bring him back into a pure relationship within the assembly.
b. What are the steps to addressing strife in the Body of Christ? V.15 – go individually to your brother. NOT: Go to FB or text 20 friends. About 99% of all conflict will be resolved at this step. Makes restoration easier. If this fails: Next step: Take two or more believers to confront and attempt to win him/her back. Third step: after a period of time for opportunity to repent, tell it to the church. (v.17a) 4th step: Ostracism until repentance.
C. Applic: 2nd stepping stopping strife is to address individuals and issues.
III. Set an Honorable Example in Our Own Lives. Vv. 14-19
A. Silence Strife by living a Christ-honoring lifestyle.
1. Nehemiah was motivated by 2 Biblical Principles during the twelve years recorded as Governor of Judah.
a. Nehemiah was motivated by the two commandments that should still motivate all serious followers of Jesus Christ: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength, and love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mk. 12:30-31). If you and I follow these two laws, we follow virtually the entire Law of God.
b. Nehemiah let godly ethics motivate and control his behavior. Before thinking about making a profit, he considered whether what he was doing was pleasing to God or not. In v. 15 he describes how the previous governors had gotten wealthy at the expense of the people. When comparing himself with what the others had done, Nehemiah stated, “But out of reverence for God, I did not act like that.” Illust: A November Gallup Poll asked Americans to rate the honesty and ethical standards of professions. The top six rated professions are: nurses (82%), pharmacists (67%), medical doctors (65%), high school teachers (64%), policemen (61%), and clergy (54%). The two lowest rated are Telemarketers (7%) and Car Salesmen (8%).(Gallup Alert 12/5/05)
2. Nehemiah realized that as a government official he was a servant TO the people.
a. vv. 17-18 we see that Nehemiah did not live extravagantly but instead lived generously by providing meals for others and not using expense accounts to do so. Because he loved and feared God, he also love the people God had called him to serve. Also, he realized, v. 18, that the taxes paid by the people to the Persian government was stifling, so anything he could do would help. One way we can all help stop strife is look out for the needs of someone OTHER than myself.
b. Illust: An estimated $1 trillion gets stolen from developing countries in a typical year, according to Global Financial Integrity, a Washington-based nonprofit that traces illicit money.
That's compared with $134 billion a year in aid that developing countries receive, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, a Paris-based nongovernmental group that tracks global economics. The difference saddles these countries with crumbling infrastructure, inadequate food supplies and scant health care. Africa, the OECD says, has most of the least-developed countries. “The comparison between today's kleptocracy and the trans-Atlantic slave trade is apt and arresting,” said Stanford University slavery historian James Campbell. Places such as Nigeria represent “the ugliest chapter in global affairs since slavery,” said Raymond Baker, director of Global Financial Integrity. He said the number of people who have died because of the illegal transfer of wealth “considerably exceeds the number of people who died in the movement of slaves.” Think of all of the strife that continually plagues Africa, much do to the selfish extravagance and corruption of a handful of individuals. Leaders could learn lesson from Nehemiah.
B. What are some principles from Nehemiah’s experience we can ponder in our own lives in Stopping strife?
1. First, let’s consider how NOT to do this. If you want to turn a disagreement into a feud then take the following steps: a. Avoid conflict so feels build up and then you explode. B. Be vague and general when you share your concerns so the other personal cannot do anything practical to change the situation. C. Assume you know all the facts and that you are totally right. D. Avoid possible solutions and go for total victory and unconditional surrender. Sure to create a feud!
2. Now, if you want to apply some principles from Neh. 5 and attempt to honor God you can take these final action steps: a. Make sure it’s a moral issue. Not just a difference in preference or opinion. Make sure you have actually been sinned against and not simply ticked. If it’s not cut some slack. B. Think before you speak. Take some time to ponder the offense, what was done and how you feel about it. Beware of anger. C. Meet face to face. “I don’t like confrontation, Chris.” Well, someone has said that “Confrontation is caring enough about the other person to get the conflict on the table and talk about it.” We saw in v. 8 that’s was exactly what Nehemiah did.
3. Illust: A boy once asked, “Dad, how do wars begin?” “Well, take the First World War,” said his father. “That got started when Germany invaded Belgium.” Immediately his wife interrupted, “Tell the boy the truth. It began because somebody was murdered.” The husband drew himself up in an air of superiority and snapped back, “Are you answering the question, or am I?” Turning her back on him in a huff, the wife walked out of the room and slammed the door as hard as she could. When the dishes stopped rattling in the cupboard, an uneasy silence followed, broken at length by the son. “Daddy, you don’t have to tell me any more; I know now!” “What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members?” (James 4:1). The way to resolve conflict with others is not to win the war with others. Rather, it is to wage war against those powerful forces that are waging war in your soul! Judge your selfish motives, daily put self on the cross, and you will move in the direction of peace in your relationships.
Conclusion: I am told that when thorough bred horses face an enemy attack they stand in a circle facing each other, and with their back legs, kick out toward the foes. Donkeys, on the other hand, make a circle and face the threat while using their hing legs to kick each other! It’s easier to conquer and subdue an enemy who attacks us than to forgive the insult or offense of a friend or loved one who hurts us. (Ps. 55:12-14)
