Bible Management Tips: Nehemiah 1

Nehemiah had been appointed by King Artaxerxes to be the Governor of Judah and for those 12 years he did not eat the Governor's provisions.

Nehemiah tells us that the previous governors had put heavy burdens on the people and taken bread, wine and 40 silver shekels from them each day. Even their servants bullied the people, "But I, Nehemiah acted differently because I feared God." (Nehemiah 5:15)

Instead of making the people work for him, Nehemiah tells us that he continued to work with them on the wall of Jerusalem together with all his servants. (Nehemiah 5:16) 

We can, therefore, learn the following Bible Management Tips from Nehemiah:

Have Mercy 

It was Nehemiah's legal right to demand the Governor's allowance since he was the Governor. 

However, the people he was serving were so impoverished that they had mortgaged their land and vineyards to buy food and some had even sold their children into slavery. (Nehemiah 5:1-4)

Therefore, even if it is your right to demand something from someone and you find that that person cannot even feed himself/herself, have mercy on them and act differently because you fear God (have reverence awe for God).

Be Righteous

The previous Governors had oppressed the people by placing heavy burdens on them and the people would not have been surprised if Nehemiah had continued with the same precedent. But he did not.

Therefore even if the people in the office you are now occupying set a bad tradition of taking bribes or doing other illegal things, act differently because you fear God.

Be Focussed 

Nehemiah knew that his primary reason for going to Judah was to build the wall of Jerusalem and even if he had been appointed a Governor, he still continued building the walls.

Therefore if you have been appointed to a prestigious position do not get sidetracked and focus on lining your pockets or enriching yourself and neglect the work that God has called you to do. Act differently because you fear God and continue doing the work He expects you to do.

For example, if God has called you to compose and sing worship songs and you have been appointed as a bank manager, ensure that you create time to sing even if you have to do it at midnight and sell your songs under a pen name. 

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