If you missed Part One, you can read it here.
As Nehemiah did, so should we, “And I became very angry when
I heard their outcry and these words.” (6). God’s people should be angry when
they see people in their church going to the government for help. God’s people
should be angry when they see people in the church encouraging others to go to
the government for help. I am only one person and I do what I can, but if
everyone in the church worked together they could help those in the church who
need help.
As Nehemiah said, so should we, “What you are doing is not
good. Should you not walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the
nations, our enemies?” (9) We should be taking care of those around us not only
because we fear God, but also so that we are giving a good testimony to those
around us.
We need to step up and do what is right. It might not be
easy, but God doesn’t call us to do what is easy; He calls us to do what is
right. We might have to go without a dessert every night or without the daily
latte or without those two hours in front of the television, but that is a
small sacrifice to make for God.
The last verse of this chapter was Nehemiah’s prayer and has
become one of my prayers as well. “Remember me, my God, for good, according to
all that I have done for this people.” (19) We shouldn’t take care of the poor
so that others will pat us on our back. We should do it because it is God’s
command.
I have to admit that I still have a long way to go myself in
taking care of the needs of others, but I have made a conscious effort in the
past few months to not only look for the needs of those around me, but also to
do my best to help fulfill those needs.
Be watching for a post on ways you can fulfill needs around
you even if you don’t have extra money in your budget.
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