Protect Yourself!

Turn on the TV and you will be told that you need to “protect your house”, or “protect your car” or even “protect your identity.” Buy an appliance and you will then be offered the opportunity to protect your investment by purchasing an extended warranty.


Selling protection is a huge business in the United States.


In the Middle Ages, princes did not have insurance, so they built tremendous castles and fortresses to protect themselves and their “stuff”.

Berg Eltz
Protecting Middle Age Princes for Centuries

Today’s reading is Ezra 8:24-31.


The exiled Jews were returning to Jerusalem from Assyria, a several hundred mile trek. They were taking with them gold and silver articles to adorn the newly rebuilt temple in Jerusalem. The journey would be treacherous, with thieves along the way. Who would protect the Jews?


Their protection was in the Lord, their God! The exiles prayed, and sure enough God saw to it that they made it to Jerusalem, with all the gold and silver, safe and sound.


The world has told us to protect our stuff, and in fact, as good stewards of what God has given us, it does make sense to buy insurance to protect at least some of our stuff.


However, there is something the world does not tell us to protect, and that is our soul, the essence of who we are.


We need to “protect” our soul from the ravages of sin and hell. We cannot protect our “stuff” by ourselves, so we rely on insurance companies.


Similarly, we cannot protect our soul by ourselves; we must rely on Jesus.


Jesus has better credentials than an insurance salesman. He died on the cross to take away our sins. He is true God and true Man. He knows what we are going through, and he knows all about the ravages of hell. He knows how to protect our soul!


Like the exiles relied on God for safe travel on their journey, we should rely on Jesus for our journey on Earth that eventually ends in heaven!


Unlike an insurance policy, Jesus' protection is completely free!

 

 

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

Brick by Brick

The Babylonian exiles were returned to their home land after the prophesied time had passed. They returned in three groups. The first group was led by Zerubbabel, the second by Ezra and Nehemiah brought the final group back home. When Nehemiah returned he found his city defenseless; no walls to protect it from their enemies.

Nehemiah 1:5-6 (MSG)
 I said, "GOD, God-of-Heaven, the great and awesome God, loyal to his covenant and faithful to those who love him and obey his commands: Look at me, listen to me. Pay attention to this prayer of your servant that I'm praying day and night in intercession for your servants, the People of Israel, confessing the sins of the People of Israel. And I'm including myself, I and my ancestors, among those who have sinned against you. 

Nehemiah is a model of committed, God-honoring leadership. The Book of Nehemiah contains many useful lessons for today's leaders to learn. He saw the condition of the city and decided to do something about it. He was determined to help rebuild the city's fallen walls. To do this, he needed the blessing of the King. So, first he prayed.

Next he approached King Artaxerxes and asked for permission to go to Jerusalem and the king approved. Nehemiah organized this massive construction project, delegated various duties and assigned specific sections of the wall to his crews.

This story is one of challenge.  It is one of prayerful, faith driven passion. Nehemiah miraculously completed this project in 52 days. His enemies became even more fearful of him because they knew God was on their side for them to have accomplished this feat in such a short time.

Is there a 'project' God has placed on your heart?  Are you wrestling with a burden to right a wrong?  Follow Nehemiah's lead and pray first; seeking God's direction and His peace. Pour your heart out to God and ask specifically for your request to be answered. Then stand back and give God room to work. It will be amazing.

Nehemiah 1:1-11