Fear of God and Love of Neighbour

In the midst of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem an outcry comes to Nehemiah from the poor. Some of them have no food to eat, others have no seed to sow, and others cannot afford the tax upon the land and have been forced to sell their children into slavery.

The challenge of a passage like this, is to rightly understand and apply the teaching for the church today. We don't sell children into slavery, and few in our congregations face the trials that were facing Israel in Nehemiah's day. Yet this text has something to say to us about how fear for God and love for neighbours effects our attitudes and actions regarding wealth.