Interest? Nehemiah 5

May the mumbling commence!

Problematic circumstances will arise in all ministry settings.  But, how do we respond to problems?  Nehemiah encountered a problem with how the people of Judah were treating their most vulnerable brothers and sisters.  Read a passage from Nehemiah chapter five:

            Now the men and their wives raised a great outcry against their Jewish brothers.  Some were saying, "We and our sons and daughters are numerous; in order for us to eat and stay alive, we must get grain." 

            Others were saying, "We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards and our homes to get grain during the famine." 

            Still others were saying, "We have had to borrow money to pay the king's tax on our fields and vineyards.  Although we are of the same flesh and blood as our countrymen and though our sons are as good as theirs, yet we have to subject our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but we are powerless, because our fields and our vineyards belong to others." 

            When I heard their outcry and these charges, I was very angry.  I pondered them in my mind and then accused the nobles and officials. I told them, "You are exacting usury from your own countrymen!" So I called together a large meeting to deal with them and said: "As far as possible, we have bought back our Jewish brothers who were sold to the Gentiles. Now you are selling your brothers, only for them to be sold back to us!" They kept quiet, because they could find nothing to say. 

            So I continued, "What you are doing is not right. Shouldn't you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our Gentile enemies?  I and my brothers and my men are also lending the people money and grain. But let the exacting of usury stop!  Give back to them immediately their fields, vineyards, olive groves and houses, and also the usury you are charging them – the hundredth part of the money, grain, new wine and oil." 

            "We will give it back," they said. "And we will not demand anything more from them. We will do as you say."

            Then I summoned the priests and made the nobles and officials take an oath to do what they had promised. (Verses 1-12)

Just to put food on the table, families were mortgaging their property and borrowing money and selling some of their children into slavery.  Interest on the loans they were getting ate away at any reserves they had.  They were even having trouble paying taxes.

Nehemiah heard their cry and stood up to the wealthy.  He basically said, “Stop exacting interest on your vulnerable brothers and sisters!  Should we free our families from slavery to other nations only to enslave them ourselves?  Give them back their property and help them get back on their feet.  Loan to them without interest.”

The people were speechless at this charge.  After listening to Nehemiah, they agreed to do as he said.  Nehemiah sealed their oaths with the priests.  Yes, how we treat people most vulnerable in our midst is important.  Read a passage from Psalm 107:

            He turned rivers into a desert,

                  flowing springs into thirsty ground, 

            and fruitful land into a salt waste,

                 because of the wickedness of those who lived there. 

            He turned the desert into pools of water

                 and the parched ground into flowing springs; 

            there he brought the hungry to live,

                 and they founded a city where they could settle. 

            They sowed fields and planted vineyards

                 that yielded a fruitful harvest; 

            he blessed them, and their numbers greatly increased,

                 and he did not let their herds diminish. 

            Then their numbers decreased,

                 and they were humbled by oppression, calamity and sorrow; 

            he who pours contempt on nobles

                 made them wander in a trackless waste. 

            But he lifted the needy out of their affliction

                 and increased their families like flocks. 

            The upright see and rejoice,

                 but all the wicked shut their mouths. (Verses 33-42)

Do you see the pattern?  Success has a way of breeding wickedness.  We want to hold onto success at all costs.  And do not doubt it – success by any means necessary does cost!  Once fertile fields dry up, crack, and blow away.  Yes, God has a way of getting our attention by allowing us to suffer the consequences of what we do – reaping what we sow.

So, when we find ourselves living with the upper hand, let’s take care with how we relate the vulnerable people.  If there is affliction, let us lift them out of it.  Our welfare is bound together with all people – indeed, with all creation.  May we join the singing and praising of the Lord with all creation by lending a hand to people who need it most.

Enough mumbling for now…  Peace Out