Nehemiah 5:14-19
Power Used Without a Burden
Read the passage
14Furthermore, from the day King Artaxerxes appointed me to be their governor in the land of Judah, from his twentieth year until his thirty-second year (twelve years total), neither I nor my brothers ate the food allotted to the governor.
15The governors before me had heavily burdened the people, taking from them bread and wine plus forty shekels of silver. Their servants also oppressed the people. But I did not do this, because of my fear of God.
16Instead, I devoted myself to the construction of the wall, and all my servants were gathered there for the work; we did not acquire any land.
17There were 150 Jews and officials at my table, besides the guests from the surrounding nations.
18Each day one ox, six choice sheep, and some fowl were prepared for me, and once every ten days an abundance of all kinds of wine was provided. But I did not demand the food allotted to the governor, because the burden on the people was so heavy.
19Remember me favorably, O my God, for all that I have done for this people.
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
Nehemiah explains how he used the office of governor. Earlier governors had burdened the people with food, wine, silver, and servants. Nehemiah refuses the governor's food because the burden on the people is already heavy.
But I did not do this, because of my fear of God.
He devotes himself to the wall, does not acquire land, and feeds many people at his table. The account is not a claim that every leader must copy every detail; it is a picture of someone refusing to turn a public responsibility into a private opportunity.
Nehemiah ends by asking God to remember what he has done for the people. That request could sound self-congratulatory, but it also shows where he believes the final accounting belongs. He wants his choices seen by God rather than applauded only by the people.
Questions
1 How long did Nehemiah serve as governor in this account?
AnswerFrom the twentieth to the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes: twelve years.
2 Why did he refuse the governor's food allowance?
AnswerNehemiah refused the governor's food allowance because he feared God and did not want to burden the people. He had not acted like earlier governors who imposed food and silver on them, even while his servants worked on the wall.
3 What did he devote himself to?
AnswerHe devoted himself to construction of the wall, with his servants gathered there for the work. He and his brothers did not acquire land.
4 What did he ask God to do?
AnswerNehemiah asked God to remember him for good and all he had done for the people. He brings his service before God, who sees how he has treated the people.
What This Means for Us
Power always brings opportunities to take more than you need. Ask what your position costs other people, and whether you can reduce that burden. Let God be the audience for your service instead of using service to demand admiration.
Prayer
God, keep our authority from becoming a burden to others. Give us fear of you, generosity with resources, and humility when our work is noticed. Amen.