How can we apply the example of giving in Nehemiah 7:70 today? Setting the Scene Nehemiah has led the returned exiles to rebuild Jerusalem’s wall. With the wall finished, attention turns to staffing the city and sustaining temple worship. That’s where Nehemiah 7:70 steps in and records a remarkable burst of generosity: “Some of the heads of the families contributed to the work. The governor gave to the treasury 1,000 gold drachmas, 50 bowls, and 530 priestly garments.” (Nehemiah 7:70) Key Details in Their Giving • Leaders set the tone—“heads of the families” initiated the offering. • Sacrifice, not leftovers—gold, bowls, and garments were high-value items needed for worship. • Corporate need over personal comfort—the gifts underwrote community worship, not private projects. Timeless Principles We Can Draw • Leadership by example: When spiritual and civic leaders give first, it builds trust and momentum (cf. 1 Chronicles 29:6-9). • Specificity: They donated precisely what the ministry required, showing thoughtful stewardship rather than random charity. • Joyful sacrifice: The text carries no hint of reluctance; generous hearts view giving as privilege, echoing 2 Corinthians 9:7. • Unity of purpose: Multiple families pooled resources, illustrating that collective generosity accomplishes what isolated efforts cannot (Acts 4:32-35). Practical Ways to Live This Out Today 1. Lead where you are • Parents model generosity for children by letting them see the household tithe or missions gift. • Ministry leaders break new ground by giving first when launching a project or fund. 2. Give strategically • Ask your church leaders what tangible needs exist—curriculum, sound gear, benevolence funds—and target those rather than guessing. • Review your budget and earmark line items for God’s kingdom before discretionary spending. 3. Sacrifice something meaningful • Fast from a luxury—streaming subscription, daily coffee run—and redirect the saved money to gospel work. • Donate a treasured skill or tool (carpentry equipment, computer expertise) if that speeds ministry forward. 4. Give together • Form a small-group “giving circle”: each member contributes monthly; the group votes on a ministry to bless. • Partner with another family to sponsor a missionary or pay camp fees for youth who can’t afford it. 5. Celebrate God’s provision • Keep a family journal of answered prayers tied to your giving; gratitude fuels future generosity (Psalm 116:12-14). • Share testimonies during church gatherings to encourage wider participation, mirroring Nehemiah’s public record. Heart Checks That Keep Our Giving Healthy • Is Christ first? Matthew 6:21 reminds us that money tracks the heart. • Is it cheerful? God “loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). • Is it proportionate? “Each should give according to his means” (Acts 11:29). • Is it private glory or God’s glory? Avoid sounding the trumpet (Matthew 6:1-4). Encouragement for Faithful Giving • God notices every offering, large or small (Mark 12:41-44). • He supplies seed to the sower and multiplies it for righteousness (2 Corinthians 9:10-11). • Generosity stores up “a firm foundation for the coming age” (1 Timothy 6:18-19). Closing Thoughts The leaders in Nehemiah 7:70 met a critical moment with tangible, sacrificial gifts, and God used their obedience to revive worship in Jerusalem. The same God still invites His people to partner with Him. As we give intentionally, sacrificially, and together, we echo their faith and fuel gospel work in our own generation. |
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