During the 12 years that Nehemiah was Governor of Judah, he refused to draw on the food allowance provided for governors. The former governors laid heavy burdens on the people by demanding food, wine, and silver from them. Even the governor’s assistants took advantage of the people. But Nehemiah refused what every other governor received, using his own financial supply to feed the Jewish leaders and notable visitors who sat at his table while he worked on the wall!
It was no small task for Nehemiah to feed everyone from his own personal wealth for the 52 days it took to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem. That means, for nearly two months, Nehemiah fed 150 officers and their guests at his own personal expense!
These are not the actions of someone content with the status quo. Nehemiah was more interested in the work of God and the burden that had been placed on the people than his own bank account!
The Church of Jesus Christ could benefit from a lot more men and women like Nehemiah! God needs more believers who are so in touch with the condition of His people that they are willing to fast and pray, repent on behalf of the sins of others, and spend whatever amount of money necessary to meet the need!
Of course, there are many who share Nehemiah’s desire but lack the finances. They earn just enough to help their family “get by” but have nothing left over.
That’s why it’s so vitally important to hear biblical prosperity preached on a regular basis. So often those with financial problems are the ones who claim that prosperity is emphasized too much. These voices of cynicism accuse those who teach on prosperity of trying to get their money.
But faith for financial prosperity only comes by hearing what God says about it. Instead of complaining, we can join the ranks of the men and women who refuse to live in lack and press into God’s promise to bless them abundantly.
It took Nehemiah a great deal of money to feed more than 150 people for 52 days. Notice what it required: “The provisions I paid for each day included one ox, six choice sheep or goats, and a large number of poultry. And every ten days we needed a large supply of all kinds of wine” (Nehemiah 5:18 NLT). He was able to do this only because he had plenty to share with others.
Nehemiah wasn’t the only one in the Bible who had that testimony. The Good Samaritan was another wealthy man the Lord used to help restore someone in need. When the Good Samaritan came across an injured man lying along the road, he first bandaged the man’s wounds; then he placed the unconscious man on his donkey and took him to an inn. The next day the Samaritan paid the innkeeper and said, “…Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here” (Luke 10:35 NLT).
Obviously, the innkeeper knew that the Good Samaritan was financially able to fulfill his commitment. For one thing, this Samaritan rode a donkey at a time when most people walked. But what if the Good Samaritan had been living from paycheck to paycheck? Regardless of his desire to help the injured man, his desire would have gone unfulfilled.
We must begin to prosper in order to finance the work of God.
