What lessons can we learn about stewardship from Nehemiah 13:5? Setting the Scene Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem after a brief stay in Persia and discovered that Eliashib the priest had cleared a storeroom in the temple courts to give Tobiah—a longtime opponent of God’s work—a private suite. That chamber had once housed supplies dedicated to worship and the care of God’s servants. Key Verse Nehemiah 13:5: “and had prepared for him a large chamber where previously they had stored the grain offerings, the frankincense, the articles, and the tithes of grain, new wine, and oil prescribed for the Levites, singers, and gatekeepers, along with the contributions for the priests.” What Went Wrong? • A sacred space was turned into a personal apartment for someone antagonistic to God’s purposes. • Offerings and resources meant for the Levites and temple ministry were displaced. • Leaders responsible for safeguarding God’s house compromised under relational and political pressure. Timeless Stewardship Lessons • God’s resources must remain devoted to God’s purposes. Diverting them erodes worship and ministry. • Stewardship is not only about money but also space, influence, and relationships God entrusts to us. • Allowing the wrong influences into God’s storehouses invites spiritual decline (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:33). • Leaders bear special responsibility to guard what belongs to the Lord (cf. 1 Timothy 6:20). • Neglect in stewardship harms others: displaced Levites lost their livelihood and left the temple work. • Prompt correction honors God. Nehemiah “threw all of Tobiah’s household goods out of the room” (Nehemiah 13:8), modeling decisive accountability. Practical Takeaways for Today • Review how church facilities, budgets, and programs are used; keep them aligned with gospel priorities. • Protect designated funds and resources; resist pressures that would re-assign them for lesser goals. • Regularly evaluate personal possessions and schedules: are they advancing God’s kingdom or merely accommodating comfort? • When misallocation is uncovered, act swiftly and transparently, just as Nehemiah did. • Support those whose ministry depends on our faithfulness—missionaries, pastors, worship teams—so they can remain focused on their calling. Supporting Scriptures • Malachi 3:10—“Bring the full tithe into the storehouse… put Me to the test,” says the LORD. • Luke 16:10—“Whoever is faithful with very little will also be faithful with much.” • 1 Corinthians 4:2—“Now it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.” |
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