Random Acts of Kindness Change Lives and Hearts

We learned earlier that the exiles returned from captivity in three different waves and how there were many years between these trips. The first group to arrive began new lives, establishing lucrative businesses. When the next groups returned they found themselves at the mercy of their rich countrymen, who would lend large sums of money and then take over their land when they missed a payment. We would call them loan sharks today.

Nehemiah 5:5 (NIV)
Although we are of the same flesh and blood as our countrymen and though our sons are as good as theirs, yet we have to subject our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but we are powerless, because our fields and our vineyards belong to others."

The people found themselves experiencing a new sort of captivity. They were forced to do what they could to pay back the loans, but often that meant selling their children into slavery, a common practice then.

Sometimes helping the poor is as simple as doing the next right thing. We find Nehemiah confronting this issue, telling the people, "You are exacting usury from your own countrymen." Fortunately the people listened to Nehemiah.

"We will give it back," they said. "And we will not demand anything more from them. We will do as you say." Then I summoned the priests and made the nobles and officials take an oath to do what they had promised. (Nehemiah 5:12)

Consider a time when you were financially strapped, when you did not know where to turn for help. This week make a difference in someone's life. Do you know someone who could use some help? Perhaps a $50 bill appearing in a mailbox would provide food for a family this week.

Acts 4:34 (NIV)
There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.

Nehemiah 5:1-12