Nehemiah 5:1-5 "FROM WITHIN" Volunteer laborers from farms and villages outside Jerusalem had been coming each day to assist in the building of the wall around Jerusalem. It would have been a place where they could come for safety in times of trouble or attack from enemies so they had a part, and a responsibility to join in the work. Consequently, they left their daily occupations and made the personal sacrifices to do this emergency work which not only would have affected their income but also their families who had to take care of things while they went into the city to work with those who lived there. Then, because of obvious opposition, the time came when they couldn't even go home at night leaving their wives and children vulnerable to those rich people who didn't put their hands to the work.
When it comes to the work of the Lord, not everyone looks at it with the same degree of interest. Some will wonder, "What's in it for me?" Others, "I can't give up my paid vacation time for something like that." Others might say, "How much an hour are you paying?" Then there are those who count it a great privilege to be able to freely give their time and energy to a work for the Lord in the assembly, in an outreach of the Gospel or a project in a foreign country where missionaries need their expertise. Those who volunteer their time and money to help accomplish a project for the work of the Lord and the benefit of others will find that it is a fact - "God is no man's debtor."
Likely there were Jews who became wealthy in Babylon when they were in exiles there for seventy years and brought their money with them to invest in land and businesses. Some were in a position to lend money and make money by holding mortgages on property the poorer and newer returnees we buying. Then there were taxes also to be paid to the foreign government who had conquered the land, and if a person didn't have the money to pay, the wealthy would loan money at excessive interest rates. The rich were becoming richer, and perhaps would pay someone to work on the wall in their place. All that was happening between "brother Jews" should not have been happening.
People of wealth need to be very careful that "the love of money" does not claim their allegiance and their souls. Covetousness is a defiling sin that some believers look at as merely "good business." A covetous person will never be satisfied with what they have. There had been Jews in the land of Judah for over one hundred years when Zerubbabel came from Babylon with 50,000 people to rebuild the temple. By the time of Nehemiah's coming with a couple of thousand people they would have been well established in business and property ownership as well as finance. When the newcomers wanted to make a start in farming and/or business they would have been somewhat at the mercy of those who came earlier and had claimed the area for themselves. Through the ages, immigrants have found it takes hard work and perseverance to get started in a new country.
New believers who come into the fellowship of an assembly, or people who move into an area from another assembly and want to become part of the local fellowship, need to know they are gladly received and accepted as one of those who share in common the work of the Lord in this location. At the same time, the expectations of those who have been in the assembly for years needs to be realistic. New believers do not know what is expected of them if someone doesn't go out of their way to tell them and shown them what has been, and is presently going on in this area. Also, we should not expect of them that which they cannot do. Significance and a sense of meaningful participation may start in engaging them in small things and gradually involving them in more important matters as their qualifications and gifts allow. Those who are mature and have been in the local work for a long time, know what to delegate and how much, as time passes. To take undue advantage of a brother or sister in Christ is never right. That can lead to inward discontent and later inward controversy, especially if we act strictly according to "the letter of the law" without the grace that is needed to make the expectations acceptable.
There were a number of groups of returned exiles who came to Judah and were being taken advantage of and actually extorted. It was legal to have indentured slaves at that time. It was legal for one to borrow money and make payments at agreed upon times. But it was not right for the wealthy among God's people to be charging high interest rates of their own "brethren" and making it impossible for the people to meet their needs and pay their debts. The love of money is a characteristic that even unbelievers who practice it themselves, do not expect to see in a child of God. So "there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews," who were taking advantage of the absentee laborers working on the wall, to take what they could while the bread winners were giving free labor to the work of the Lord.
How careful we must be that there be no discrimination among the Lord's people. Some may be poor and cannot change their circumstances because of location, health and family responsibilities. Others may be successful because of their opportunity for education, family connections, heritage or other reasons. The biblical principles that guide us, clarify our responsibilities to each other. We are to "comfort the feeble- minded... support the weak... and be patient..." Inward attacks against the work of the Lord may be even more dangerous and effective that the outward actions of open opposition.
I wonder why those who share a common faith, Would want to take advantage, instead of showing grace. Perhaps they have forgotten the pit from which they came - And have forgotten they too, must do all in Jesus' name.
All of the children of God come from backgrounds quite diverse. Some feel quite disenfranchised for better or for worse. As one in Christ together, "One body in the Lord..." Unity is essential whether carrying the Book or using the Sword.
It is wrong to take advantage of a person when he is down.
A helping hand, a cheerful smile is more effective than a frown. To take a loss at the present time, has eternal value in the end. To give not expecting to receive, means it is to our Lord that we did lend.
T "write off" a brother's debt should be common in a family. What is not seen is eternal, bearing burdens a privileged duty. "Count it all joy" when one is able to lift another's load. Perhaps that is one way we remember what we owe to our Gracious God.
"Father, please keep Thy servant from claiming for myself that which Thou hast given me. Give me the discernment to know how best to help others, and the wisdom to know when the time is appropriate to take action. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen."