RETURN TO SURRENDER & STEWARDSHIP

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DAY 17 - January 21

If you remember, we left off yesterday on a high note - looking a bit ahead to the celebration that was to come as the people of God remained faithful and diligent in the mundane of the day-to-day.  However, it is important to note that those mundane tasks did not come without their share of frustration and difficulty, a reality brought to light in chapter 4.  So let’s go ahead, pause, grab our Bibles, and give chapter 4 a read.  

In reading those verses, two themes continued to stand out and resurface: opposition and surrender.  When the Jews were mocked in verses 1-3, Nehemiah’s response in verse 4 was, “Then I prayed.”  When Sanballat and his band of cronies came at God’s people again in verses 7-8, what did His people do?  Verse 9 tells us that they prayed.  And when the Jews became their own worst enemy, allowing weariness and fear to overtake them, in verses 10-12, Nehemiah reminded the people of the Lord’s faithfulness, power, provision, and might in verses 14 and 20.

Are you starting to see a pattern?  This whole chapter is a see-saw of events showing the people continually returning to a place of surrender, not just to the difficulty of the task at hand, but to the authority and power of the One who called them to it in the first place.  And it was from this position of surrender that they began to live out the truth declared in Zechariah 4:6,

“Then He said to me, “This is what the Lord says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force, not by strength,

but by My spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.” (NLT)

But the struggles the Jews are facing don’t end there!  Their difficulties and oppression continue to be recounted in Nehemiah 5, which I’d like you to go ahead and read for yourself in its entirety now.  

Where chapter 4 focused mainly on external struggles (enemies coming from without the city walls), chapter 5 focuses more on internal ones (struggles being faced within them).  And in response to these struggles, we see, as we discussed previously, God’s people continually surrendering to Him; we also see another layer of their obedience as they work to steward well the gifts He has given them and the calling (aka mission) He has set before them.

We see this first in Nehemiah’s leadership, as he showed great care for the people, not only organizing systems to help provide for basic needs but also confronting leaders who were exploiting the poor with heavy taxes and debt (Nehemiah 5:6-7).  Now, the thought of stewarding our leadership can seem like an odd idea or statement, but it is definitely not a calling unique to Nehemiah, as God has instructed all of us to do the same.  1 Peter 5:1b-3 says,

“As a fellow elder, I appeal to you: Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you.  Watch over it

willingly, not grudgingly - not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. 

Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example.”  (NLT)

The word “elder” used in this passage is the Greek word “presbuteros”, which refers to experienced, mature Christians, not just Pastors.  Now, you may never stand on a platform and preach a sermon to a church body; however, you are called to shepherd well the flock the Lord has given to YOU - that includes those in your home, at your work, and in your sphere of influence.  We see this call to steward our leadership echoes in several places in scripture.

“Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the

Son and the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 28:19 (NLT)

“You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses.  Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.” 2 Timothy 2:2

Nehemiah chapter 5 also shows us that Nehemiah stewarded his resources well, in verses 14-19.  Let’s quickly revisit what we read in verses 14-15,

“For the entire twelve years that I was governor of Judah - from the twentieth year to the thirty-second year

of the reign of King Artaxerxes - neither I nor my officials drew on our official food allowance.  The former governors, in contrast, had laid heavy burdens on the people, demanding a daily ration of food and wine,

besides forty pieces of silver.  Even their assistants took advantage of the people.  But because I feared God,

I did not act that way.” Nehemiah 5:14-15 (NLT)

When Nehemiah says that he “feared God”, he isn’t saying he was afraid of what God would do if he were to ask for a food allowance.  What he is saying is that he TRUSTED God to provide for him and his needs, just as He had always done.  In essence, he was saying - God, I recognize that all I have is yours and not mine.  So, instead of living off my allotted portion (aka “what I deserve”), offering back to you and your people only a portion of my abundance, I instead ask you to give me the portion of your abundance that you see fit.”  Nehemiah 5:19 says,

“Remember, O my God, all that I have done for these people, and bless me for it.” (NLT)

In short, Nehemiah 4 and 5 teach us that if we surrender our fears to God and do our part to steward our responsibilities and resources well, He will accomplish so much more than we could ever think, ask, or imagine both in us and through us.  

Let’s reflect on what we just read and learned.

1. What does living a surrendered life look like practically for you, particularly in the “mundane” or day-to-day responsibilities of your life?  In what ways do you need to return - again and again - to a posture of surrender?

2. How does Zechariah 4:6 challenge the way you measure success and strength?  Where might you be relying on your own strength rather than God’s Spirit?

3. Who has God placed in your sphere of influence?  How are you intentionally shepherding or discipling those God has entrusted to you?

4. How do you typically view your resources - time, finances, abilities - as “yours” or as God’s?  What resource is God calling you to steward more faithfully?

5. Is there an area where God may be inviting you to trust Him more fully with provision?  How might a shift in generosity reflect a deeper trust (fear) of the Lord?

“For we are God’s masterpiece.  He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do  the good things He planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)