A Fair Approach
Words of Faith 6-26-26
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2026
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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CONTEXT OF THIS DEVOTION. The book of Nehemiah tells the story of a leader who heard of the great need in Jerusalem and responded to God's call by rebuilding the city's walls to make it safe. Most of the people of Israel were taken away into exile in Babylon in 586 BC. This was allowed as a punishment from God because Israel had worshiped idols and had been unjust to the poor. The exile began with the terrible defeat and devastating destruction of Jerusalem. The fabulous Temple of Solomon was destroyed and looted by the Babylonians, and the city was leveled. Finally, the period of punishment ended, and groups of Jews returned to Jerusalem and began rebuilding the Temple in about 538 BC. But Jerusalem remained weak and unprotected with the walls in ruin for nearly 100 years. Nehemiah heard this and prayed earnestly. As the cupbearer for the King in Persia, who had conquered Babylon, he heard from God and obeyed.
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Nehemiah 5
[1] Now the men and their wives raised a great outcry against their Jewish brothers. [2] Some were saying, "We and our sons and daughters are numerous; in order for us to eat and stay alive, we must get grain."[3] Others were saying, "We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our homes to get grain during the famine."[4] Still others were saying, "We have had to borrow money to pay the king's tax on our fields and vineyards. [5] 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." [6] When I heard their outcry and these charges, I was very angry. [7] 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 [8] 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. [9] 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? [10] I and my brothers and my men are also lending the people money and grain. But let the exacting of usury stop! [11] 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."[12] "We will give it back," they said. "And we will not demand anything more from them. We will do as you say."

When Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem, many families had been through hard times. Some had returned with nothing and attempted to scratch a living from the land. Others had remained in the land during the exile and had a certain advantage. Many had gone into debt to pay taxes and just to live. Land and homes had been lost. Some had even seen their children indentured to pay the debts. But the worst of it was that excessive interest was being charged by fellow Jews!

Now Nehemiah watched these same struggling families set aside everything to see the project through to completion. Many began to hurt just for money to buy food. Nehemiah was paying off debts to get fellow Jews freed from slavery only to find other brothers still “sticking it to” the brethren. What is wrong with this picture!? No wonder he was angry! Nehemiah had sacrificed everything in order to set the people of God free and provide a place of security for them, only to have other "brothers" profiteering!

After pondering the situation (Nehemiah was never one to jump ahead of the Lord), he confronted those who were profiting from those less fortunate and those who had sacrificed to rebuild the wall. "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?" The Spirit of God must have brought a powerful conviction, because they agreed to repay the unfair interest. The people of God began to cooperate in trying to set people free.

I wonder if a similar situation ever exists in the Body of Christ.

I’m not talking about the fact that we should always be fair in business no matter who is involved. That goes without saying. I am just wondering if there are ever situations where some give faithfully and sacrificially to further the Kingdom while others profit from God's work.

Over the years, I have known of situations where generous Church contracts were awarded on the basis of a good-old-boy network or family affiliation, and thousands of dollars were wasted. I have known situations where some members "loaned" a tithe to the Lord to subscribe to a church bond issue, while others in the same church sacrificed a double tenth in order to pay that debt.

Most often, it boils down to some who suffer in their sacrifice for God, while others neglect their basic responsibility. But the more significant issues may concern deeper realms of the Kingdom. I wonder sometimes. Is there someone who must serve several times their share because I had other things to do when it was time to serve? Is there someone who had to pray an extra hour today at God's leading to make up for the hour I failed to lift my church and my missionaries before the Lord? Have I exacted a sort of spiritual usury on the Body of Christ by my failure to do my part in making the dwelling of God secure?

Uh oh. Stepping on my own toes a bit there! Better go back to money! I confess that I have observed the dearest of servants on the mission field who were struggling to survive and going personally into debt to meet the most desperate of human needs, while others in the Body of Christ asked for "less talk about money."

Nehemiah might well say, "Friends in Christ, this is not right." Shouldn't we walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our enemies?

Let us not forget that we are stewards of God's resources— spiritual, emotional, and physical. Let us share with God and with His work. Let us share with His people. Let us give all we can and then give a little more. Let us serve all we can and then serve a little more. Pray all we can and then pray just a little more.

Lord, forgive me if my failures have added to the burden of my brothers and sisters in Christ. Lead me into a life of faithfulness. Lead me into places of loving service, deeper prayer, and faithful stewardship. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2025
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2025 Jeffrey D. Hoy.