What we need to succeed

The Israelites in Nehemiah’s day had learned how to successfully fend off their enemies so they could continue rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem.

About this time some of the men and their wives raised a cry of protest against their fellow Jews. They were saying, "We have such large families. We need more food to survive." Others said, "We have mortgaged our fields, vineyards, and homes to get food during the famine." And others said, "We have had to borrow money on our fields and vineyards to pay our taxes. (Nehemiah 5:1-4 NLT)

It’s one thing to struggle against enemies that are “out there.”  It’s another thing completely to fight enemies when they are our own brothers and sisters in Christ.  What do we do when the person causing the trouble is sitting in the seat next to you at church services?

We belong to the same family as those who are wealthy, and our children are just like theirs. Yet we must sell our children into slavery just to get enough money to live. We have already sold some of our daughters, and we are helpless to do anything about it, for our fields and vineyards are already mortgaged to others." When I heard their complaints, I was very angry. (Nehemiah 5:5-6 NLT)

Anger is a natural first reaction, but anger does not produce the “Garden Walk” life that God desires for us.  We need to take a moment to back up, take a look at what’s happening, and ask God for the solution.  Often times, the solution is right in front of our face.  We just need to ask God’s help to see it.

After thinking it over, I spoke out against these nobles and officials. I told them, "You are hurting your own relatives by charging interest when they borrow money!" Then I called a public meeting to deal with the problem. At the meeting I said to them, "We are doing all we can to redeem our Jewish relatives who have had to sell themselves to pagan foreigners, but you are selling them back into slavery again. How often must we redeem them?" And they had nothing to say in their defense. Then I pressed further, "What you are doing is not right! Should you not walk in the fear of our God in order to avoid being mocked by enemy nations?  I myself, as well as my brothers and my workers, have been lending the people money and grain, but now let us stop this business of charging interest. (Nehemiah 5:7-10 NLT)

You see, God really does call us to be different in God’s Church.  The Church isn’t given enough resources to feed the whole world, but it certainly can make sure no one in the Church goes hungry.  It doesn’t have the political pull to redistribute all the wealth of an entire country, but it does have the ability to make sure there is no one in dire need within the Body.  God’s Church becomes a beacon of light to the world by first being the salt of the earth.  We need to care for one another in the Body of Christ so that the world sees the benefits and blessings that come from walking together with God.  When we see this, we start to see different solutions to the problems we face.  We also often realize that we have been a part of the problem, too.  The solution will require us to change as well.

You must restore their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and homes to them this very day. And repay the interest you charged when you lent them money, grain, new wine, and olive oil." They replied, "We will give back everything and demand nothing more from the people. We will do as you say." Then I called the priests and made the nobles and officials swear to do what they had promised. (Nehemiah 5:11-12 NLT)

You see, God’s economic systems throughout Scripture always give God’s followers everything they need.  In fact, when we live as God says, we start to realize that we have much more than what we need.  God doesn’t tell us to give each other unlimited free handouts.  That works against the sense of purpose we get from working.  God does teach us to set one another up for success, though.  We should give one another what we need to succeed.

How about you?  Are there systems, processes, or approaches in God’s Church that get in the way of God’s people living out God’s purpose for their lives?  Do you contribute to or participate in the problem?  Have you asked God to show you the solutions?  Are you being a part of the solution?  Do you set people up for success?  Do you give people in God’s Church what they need to succeed?