Nehemiah 5 – Are you a helper or a huckster?

Summary: A verse by verse examination of what the Bible teaches about planning. Studying through Nehemiah this message focuses on Nehemiah 5, opposition to the work of the Lord from the inside.

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Bible References:

Nehemiah 5:1-19 ( KJV ) ¹And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.  ²For there were that said, We, our sons, and our daughters, are many: therefore we take up corn for them, that we may eat, and live.  ³Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth.  ⁴There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards.  ⁵Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought unto bondage already: neither is it in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards. ⁶And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.  ⁷Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them.  ⁸And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, which were sold unto the heathen; and will ye even sell your brethren? or shall they be sold unto us? Then held they their peace, and found nothing to answer.  ⁹Also 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?  ¹⁰I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury.  ¹¹Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them.  ¹²Then said they, We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do as thou sayest. Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they should do according to this promise.  ¹³Also I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labour, that performeth not this promise, even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the congregation said, Amen, and praised the LORD. And the people did according to this promise. ¹⁴Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor.  ¹⁵But the former governors that had been before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God.  ¹⁶Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants were gathered thither unto the work.  ¹⁷Moreover there were at my table an hundred and fifty of the Jews and rulers, beside those that came unto us from among the heathen that are about us.  ¹⁸Now that which was prepared for me daily was one ox and six choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days store of all sorts of wine: yet for all this required not I the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people.  ¹⁹Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.

1 Corinthians 6:1-8 ( KJV ) ¹Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?  ²Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?  ³Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?  ⁴If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.  ⁵I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?  ⁶But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.  ⁷Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?  ⁸Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.

1 Timothy 6:6-12 ( KJV ) ⁶But godliness with contentment is great gain.  ⁷For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.  ⁸And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.  ⁹But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.  ¹⁰For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.  ¹¹But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.  ¹²Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

1 Timothy 6:17-18 ( KJV ) ¹⁷Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;  ¹⁸That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

James 3:16 ( KJV ) ¹⁶For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.