During the 12 years that Nehemiah was Governor of Judah, he refused to draw on the food allowance provided for governors. Many people who struggle financially
often think that asking the Lord to bless them financially sounds selfish or greedy. Many of these same people think it sounds more godly and humble
to be poor. But this kind of thinking isn’t humble. In fact, it’s actually very selfish.
When all a person wants is enough money to meet the needs of their family, they are unable to help others even if the Lord instructed them to. But if a
person has more than what it takes to run their household, they could actually become a channel of the Lord’s provision to others in need. Their family
could actually become known as a “distribution center” for the Kingdom of God. Now, that sounds like the person who is discontent with the status quo!
God needs people who will be bold enough to possess more than just enough to meet their own needs, people who desire to become distribution centers for
the Lord, ready and able to help wherever He calls on them. As Romans 12:13 says, “When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be
eager to practice hospitality” (NLT). That’s exactly what Nehemiah did.
When Nehemiah finally finished rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem, he reflected on the goodness of God and how often He’d had mercy on the children of Israel.
“For forty years you sustained them in the wilderness, and they lacked nothing. Their clothes did not wear out, and their feet did not swell!” (Nehemiah
9:21 NLT).
Yet despite God’s goodness, His people had repeated a cycle of disobedience, misery, and repentance over and over again. As a result of Israel’s continued
disobedience, Nehemiah said: “So now today we are slaves here in the land of plenty that you gave to our ancestors! We are slaves among all this abundance”
(v. 36).
Doesn’t this sound all too familiar? Nehemiah’s statement could be a commentary on the condition of God’s people today! Even though God has promised to
bless His people with abundance, many still live as slaves to lack among all this abundance. What a tragedy!
But we don’t have to count ourselves among that number. Instead, we can follow Nehemiah’s example. Regardless of our own natural limitations, we can choose
to see our situation from God’s perspective and to rise above a lifestyle of mediocrity and lack. As we press beyond our own need into a life of abundance,
there is no limit to what we can do to bless others and impact God’s Kingdom!
Make the decision to become a distribution center for God today!
