Today I read Nehemiah 13, in which Nehemiah’s reforms are implemented to comply with the law. Today I considered that when we realize someone is not managing money well, we should get someone else and the faith of the person you marry matters.
Change Because of the Law
Following the reading of the law of Moses, Nehemiah changed things to try to comply with the law (Nehemiah 13:1-31). After they read the law saying the Ammonite and Moabite were to not be in their congregation, they separated the Israelites from those of foreign descent. Priest Eliashib had prepared a room for Tobiah in the house of the Lord and gave him of the portion given to God. When Nehemiah came back and found out, he threw out Tobiah’s things from the room and had the room cleansed. Nehemiah then put things for the house of the Lord in that room. Nehemiah had new leaders appointed over the tithes and offerings. Nehemiah had the Levites and singers come back to the city to receive a portion of the tithe. Nehemiah realized they were selling, trading, and working on the Sabbath, and had the gates closed all day and a guard posted to prevent this activity. Nehemiah rebuked those who had children with those of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. Nehemiah had them promise to not marry their daughters or sons to them because even Solomon could not resist the temptation to sin because of his foreign wives. Nehemiah asked God to remember him for the work he had done.
Questions and Thoughts for Today
The person or people over the money matters. In Nehemiah 13 we see that Levites and singers left the city because they were not being paid. They were willing to do the work for the house of the Lord, which took up a lot of their time, but needed provision to live there. Eliashib was not giving them provision to live. Nehemiah brought them back and gave them of the tithes and offering given to the house of the Lord.
Have you seen someone who was working for God but had to stop because no one was paying the person?
Marriage partners are important and can influence our spiritual lives. Nehemiah told the people that even Solomon, the wisest man, was negatively influenced by his wives. Who you, your sons, and your daughters marry matters. Those loving, honoring, and believing in the Lord should only marry those loving, honoring, and believing in the Lord. Believers should marry believers.
Have you seen someone marry an unbeliever and stop doing as much for the Lord or stop worshiping the Lord as much?