Me, Myself and I - Nehemiah 5:1-19

In other words, the devil is watching belongs for this kind of selfish activity than Paul is describing to him. It is a wonderful opportunity to bring even further division so he evades his talk with even more selfish advice will think about others think about yourself, your desires, your life, your money, your plans, your career, your retirement, whatever, and repeat after me, he whispers me myself and me myself. The one thing that keeps the church from reaching the world is an unhealthy and on biblical focus on self esteem and takes us back to the book of Nehemiah organist see that selfishness was a problem that was evident in the nation of Israel but Nehemiah through his example and his teaching help the nation see their sin and change their attitude Stevens calling today's lesson may myself and I let's get started with today's Bible lesson thus far in our study we have observed is the red Dragon is engineered several different attempts to cause the work on the wall sees the enemies of God have been spellbound by the whispering motivations of the Dragon and they have come again and again against the people of God. The people of Jerusalem we have learned have already withstood cruel reviling and mockery, and when that didn't work when the walls were halfway up discouragement had set in by the constant threat of war and it nearly caused the work to come to a halt. Neither ridicule nor discouragement were able and successful in stopping the work on the wall. We have been studying Nehemiah we have gone to the New Testament as well to learn what we can of the methods of the evil one. We have been told not to be ignorant of his scheme, so let's do that again affected my turn in your Bibles Ephesians for them to give you three ways that he works against the believer. First of all, he will attempt to discourage the believer and we have seen that at work. Second, he will attempt to deceive the believer. Third, if it does fail, he will also attempt to divide the believers worn where's the writing on Nehemiah chapter 5 commented when the enemy fails in his attacks from the outside. He then begins to attack from within and one of his favorite weapons is selfish.

Satan used this in the first family where the very first son was born to Adam and Eve, one kill the other in self-centered envy Satan use this in the first church they were moving along and thousands were being added to their number, and suddenly there was an outcry because the Grecian widows were being overlooked in the Hebrew widows, the national board widows were being a preferentially cared for and it nearly destroyed.

In fact it was so significant to the work that out of that controversy came a new redefining method of church leadership exists even to this day the Galatian church was struggling with the division that the enemy was bringing about of course they were all too willing and the participation with them so that Paul had to tell them stop biting and devouring one another, watch out that you don't consume each other and have nothing left. Is it any wonder whatever conflict occurs among believers that the devil remains neutral. At that point he just supply his ammunition to both sides. I believe that the greatest enemy of the church is often the church.

The thing that often keeps the church from moving forward is the church thing that keeps the church from winning the world is that the world is one the church, the thing that keeps new believers from drawing our older believers who refused to grow up. The song that circulates among all those who allow the enemy to use them to divide those who are deceived and those sing the same mantra and it is something like this me myself and I we, myself, and I before we see how Nehemiah handled the selfishness of the Israelites. I wanted to find this Dragon's Lord is clearly as possible and ask God as we study at the just sort of motivate and challenge our own hearts. I'd like it read this with me.

Selfishness is having the attitude that people exist merely to meet my agenda my wishes and my needs. Thus, the value of anything people church, God, etc. is determined only in light of what they can do for me. This attitude is revealed not only in outward behavior, but also in secret thought and left unchecked is ultimately destructive and it is it destroys marriages.

It destroys ministries that destroys churches and destroys friendships. It is destructive received phone calls from two missionaries serving on two different sides of the world and they said Stephen.

Our greatest challenge. At this point in our ministry is what they referred to as a people problem division among their team division among the ministry outposts I want to listen to one news report that I got about a church that made the news. Unfortunately in Kenya, scores of worshipers were hurt in a brawl during Sunday worship at a Kenyan church, local newspapers reported the church to become divided into rival congregations by dispute over its management decisions after church elders dismissed some other church leaders on charges of financial irregularity. The Kenya time said it took the intervention of police to stop part of the congregation from strangling a pastoral staff member appointed to take charge of running the church the people newspaper said members of the congregation turned their backs on the pulpit when the pastor attempted the lead in worshiping for over four hours. Many in the congregation booed, insulted and heckled him. The newspaper said eventually scores of faithful were left seriously injured when a free-for-all fistfight erupted from the very beginning the church in Jerusalem. The church in Corinth. The church in Galatia. Here the church in Ephesus, and perhaps the church and carry our greatest threat to ourselves is ourselves. Look at chapter 4 of Ephesians in verse 25 we have read some already earlier of the chapter, Paul writes lay aside falsehood, speak truth, each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another. The angry, and yet do not sin. Do not let the sun go down on your anger, not notice these verses.

These words jumped out at me from this verse and do not give the devil an opportunity. In other words, the devil is it worth watching. He longs for this kind of selfish activity that Paul is describing to him. It is a wonderful opportunity to bring even further division so he baits his hawk with even more selfish advice.

That's right don't think about others think about yourself, your desires, your life, your money, your plans, your career, your retirement, whatever, and repeat after me, he whispers me myself and I me myself and I noticed verse 29 let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification. According to the need of the moment that it may give grace to those who hear and do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. The implication ladies and gentlemen is that the Ephesian believers were involved in bitterness and anger and clamor and wrath all malice, but instead of acting like that. Paul says in verse 32. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. These verses do not leave any room for secret thoughts of selfishness nor any outward deeds of self. Do you know who has a big problem living out these verses.

I do, I do save it sooner supposed to be good. We pay you to begin your know I have a problem. Stephen is a problem with selfishness.

There is at the core of all of us. This bent toward thinking about me myself and I go back to the garden.

The very first sins serpent, the dragons slipped in and surf informant said, in effect even think about yourself like that God would get until you really care. Think about yourself. Thomas Merton was right when he wrote to consider people and events and situations only in the light of their effect upon yourself is to live on the doorstep of hell, there's a problem in Ephesus there's a problem in Galatia there is a problem in Jerusalem there is a problem in Kenya there is a problem and carry wherever you go. The enemy and part of the lore of this Dragon is to divide the believers. No believer is exempt from this floor. We are all terminally infected with this thing called selfish and we must battle and we must deal with it or he will use it in whichever way he can to destroy us. Go find out what happened in Jerusalem and self-centeredness momentarily brought the work on the wall to stop. These are rather interesting words and shocking words to me to read in chapter 5, verse one, especially after we study chapter 4 everybody's United by families, a structure weapons to their side as let's go build all of a sudden you read now that is at this time there was a great outcry of the people, and of their wives against their enemies. No, there was a great outcry of the people, and of their wives against their Jewish brothers, for there were those who said we are sons and our daughters are many, therefore let us degrade and remain live. There were others who said we are mortgaging our fields or vineyards in our houses that we might get grain because of the famine. Also, there were those who said we borrowed money for the Kings taxes our fields and our vineyards now are places like the flesh of our brothers or children like their children.

Yet the whole, we are forcing our sons in our daughters to be slaves in some of our daughters are forced into bondage already and we are helpless because our fields and vineyards belong to others. The implication to other Jews.

There are three problems represented here. If I can summarize them. The three problems are these hunger debts and high taxes for groups of people were involved in the crisis in verse two, introduced the people who were going hungry because they didn't own any land upon which the farm in verse three were were introduced to the people who own the land but had mortgage their property in order to buy food and were introduced to 1/3 group of people who own land, but were so financially strapped that they were forced to borrow money in order to pay taxes, and the fourth group who I mentioned until later are the wealthy Jewish leaders who loaned their Kinsman money laundering Tinsman goods but for collateral took their land and even took their sons and daughters and force them into slavery so that the people were having to decide between starvation and sending their sons and daughters into servitude to other Jewish people. The leaders and wealthy Jewish people were selfishly exploiting the poor Jewish people in order to make themselves even richer. It was as one author commented an epidemic of selfish greed, but is verse six.

Then I was very angry when I heard there outcry in these words in the mile do three things. First of all, he says. I consulted with myself literally.

I took counsel within my own heart done that before having to have your driving down the street in your car and you're faced with a challenge or some conflict or some issue, some emergency, and you're just talking away. Your lips are moving.

Hopefully cars don't come up beside you and stare at your consulting within yourself that could be even something deeper than that. Perhaps because all of the leaders in the wealthy Jewish people here were guilty of this extortion. The name I had no one else to talk to in leadership. This was his burden that he was buried. I took counsel within my own heart. The second thing he did was confront the citizens of Jerusalem by the way, before we dig any deeper.

This is quite a risky thing for him to do. At the very time the enemies of surrounded Jerusalem.

Nehemiah is going to confront the very men who could cripple this project should they choose to be angry and offended at Nehemiah's confrontation of their sin.

They packed her bags and left the loss of morale would only add to Nehemiah is challenged. In other words, I say that to say this. Nehemiah had every reason to sort of stuff there sin on the carpet sort of ignore the problem do anything but confront the leaders sin and just tell the people come up with something different will get you food somehow.

Don't worry about for Nehemiah. He was willing to confront them and thoroughly challenge their selfishness, and he challenges them on several fronts. First of all the challenges there selfish disobedience to the law of God. Verse seven that I contended with the nobles and the rulers and said to them, you are exacting. Usually your interest each from his brother. Therefore, I held the great assembly against the Old Testament made it very clear the Jewish people could loan as Nehemiah was even doing goods and money to their brethren, but they were not allowed to charge interest.

They couldn't take advantage of a Jew was in need. They could give them the food they needed and whatever they can repay them they could repay them without food and no more affect every 50 years. They had a Jubilee that was the practice where every Jew wiped off of their record books. Any debt from another Jew anything any other Jew out, then they would wipe it off and they had this Jubilee. What would better work to become up with all your debts are a racist, but Jubilee and they had a celebration and yet here is the exact opposite of that practice. They were violating this these nobles and leading citizens of been charging interest later in the passage were told that it's around 12%. Nehemiah said, in effect, in verse seven you're breaking the law and you're doing it at the expense of your own brother and by the way could circle brother, and that appears several times.

It's as if Nehemiah is reminding them you're doing this awful thing in disobeying the law of God which are doing it against family.

This is family. They evidently didn't care how they mistreated family challenge. Secondly, there selfish violation of God's purpose for Israel. Verse eight I said to them, we according to our ability Redeemer Jewish brothers were sold to the nations.

How would you even sell your brothers that they may be sold to us. In other words, God redeemed us from slavery as a people he's brought us back to Jerusalem.

Now how can you turn God's redemptive purpose upside down and enslave us to your cell. The text says then they were silence and could not find a word to say to good place to stop and it these men know they've been greedy and selfish in front of the assembly there stumped good place to start. No Nehemiah, he is finished challenges there selfish failure to represent God before unbelievers.

Verse nine. Again I said the thing which you are doing is not good. Should you not walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the nations our enemies. In other words, won't you walk with God because if you don't the nations will look down on us as a people and ultimately reflect poorly on the character of God is, and that at the heart of the greatest loss by believers who mistreat believers to God's honor is defamed in the community. When this news had intended. Don't you understand the greatest loss is not even in that church, but it is to the honor and reputation of God the things you are doing is not good for Stan and likewise on my brothers and my servants are lending the money, and brain. Please let us leave off this Usery please get back to them this very day I here's how their extortion had become so deeply part of their community. Look at what they take in their fields or vineyards. Their olive groves their houses. Also, the hundredth part of the money and of the grain and new wine of the all you are exacting from them now. Nehemiah finishes his speech. How will they respond. It would be an amazing thing for their hearts to be softened, in turn, would they put their loyalty back to one another over and above the tremendous well that they are extorting from people in their own community.

I mean it would be one thing for them to say oh you're right. Nehemiah of kale Telamon. I'm sorry to be another thing for them to say I'm sorry and I give it back there is a sign of repentance. And that's what Nehemiah's estimate do to stop, but give it back. Now look at verse 12 then they said, here it is. We will give it back and will require nothing from them.

We will do exactly as you say. Thus, they called for smelling salts.

Upon observing the Nehemiah had fainted dead away between the Hebrew line so I called the priests and took a note from them that they would do. According to this promise they made a promise to Nehemiah made an oath to the priests and there was submission to God's authority.

But Nehemiah now isn't quite finished, he is about eight minutes left.

Verse 13. I also shook out the front of my Garmin and said, thus may God shake out every man from his house and from his possessions, who does not fulfill this promise. Even thus may he be shaken out and empty and all of the assembly said a man which basically means Soviet.

According as you have spoken. That's what I meant mean and they praised the Lord what began in chapter 5 has a great outcry becomes now a great celebration and they praised the Lord. People who live unselfish lives tend to leave a trail of spiritual confetti behind them wherever they go.

We who are impacted by them praise our God for their lives. Nehemiah live like that. In fact the end of this chapter is just nothing more than an explanation of how you continue the example of unselfish service as quickly read verse 14. Moreover, from the day that I was appointed to be the governor to catch at he's now the governor, in the land of Judah. The 20th year of the 32nd year of King Artaxerxes for 12 years. Neither I nor my kinsmen have eaten the governor's food allowance that speaks volumes as a famine going on. People are hungry. He has an allowance because the people's hunger.

He will not even the governor, usually easy could have chowed down legally.

No one could've ever accused him but he was unselfish with the former governors who are performing verse 15 of lay burdens on the people and took from them bread and wine.

Beside 40 shekels of silver.

Even their servants domineering. The people died and how that existed but I did not do so because of the fear of God. My honoring of God's character. I also applied myself to the work on this wall. We did not buy any land that all my servants were gathered there for the work you get the picture here.

Nehemiah was no ordinary ruler who lived off the labor of his people took advantage of his position, he had every right to kick back and some ivory palace and and take advantage of all of the perks he had them coming success in his day and in our day is when you arrive at a certain level success is revealed by how many people are serving you. If you have all of the perks take treat people on some other level of strata, perhaps in a way that you believe is beneath your own differently when you go out to eat. Perhaps today treat the waitresses if she were your servant. It is your right. No one would ever complain that I have asked waitresses in the past but the worst day of the week is for them and they say Sunday is when we get the least amount of tips when the church goes out to eat to get the lease both you notice even verse 16 makes it clear that Nehemiah is mixing mortar and hauling rock is helping them right along with the rest of the people that would be as rare. Back in those days for the governor to do that as it would be for a young man to give a baseball to a guy who hit it out of the bar. You just don't do that unless begin to sing something other than me, myself, and I was moving verse in this chapter is the last one to may remember me oh my God for good verse 19, according to all that I have done for this people and I had to use the word worship because worship seeks the pleasure of God above all else he wanted God and the attention of God.

Selfish people want the attention of who other people.

Nehemiah wanted to be noticed only by God to do notice Nehemiah did not say here all God make these people around me appreciate what I'm doing for them.

Oh Lord help my family to respect my decision to live for Christ in an understandable help him to make it easier for me, God, make my friends and my coworkers and my classmates respect and admire my decision to live a holy life. Before you know all God, you alone remember me, and if you do the viewing, knowledge, and if it is pleasing to you. I am satisfied enough Dr. Campbell in his book on Nehemiah Insecta used to be the president of Dallas seminary told the story of a young brilliant musician violinist who was being taught by a world renowned master teacher. This young protégé was exceptionally brilliant and capable. There came a time when his teacher decided it was appropriate for his public debut was arranged at a concert hall of the place was packed with expectant music lovers and the media was there backed up by a full orchestra. This young man stepped forward and begin to play with great skill and beauty.

When he finished his first piece. The crowd erupted in applause, they notice that he stood there rather silently on smilingly looking off toward the balcony.

The next song began. He played again with great skill and it went that way. Song after song and even after the ending number where the bravos were the loudest in the cheers with the greatest he stood there looking off to the balcony until an old man smiled back at him and nodded approval immediately relaxed being with satisfaction the applause of the people meant nothing compared to the applause of his master cure for selfishness is living in that same kind of light. Nothing would please us more. We seek nothing other than to please God and to see as it were. His smiled with approval the most magnificent thing is going to happen when we finish our race as we have been faithful to him say :-) good and faithful servant. For those of us who will like Nehemiah live with that objective unselfishness is battled against successfully red Dragon is defeated once again. I hope today's lesson encouraged you to examine your own life for signs of selfishness and spurred a commitment to removing selfishness when it creeps into your thinking.

This is wisdom for the heart.

The Bible teaching ministry of Stephen Davey, if you'd like to dive a little deeper into your study of Nehemiah Stevens written a book that's part of his wisdom. Commentary series. We'd love to give you more information on that resource.

So give us a call today at 86 648 Bible and ask for information about the book Nehemiah in addition to being our daily Bible teacher. Stephen is the senior pastor of colonial Baptist Church in Cary, North Carolina. If you'd like to learn more about Stephen or access any of the other resources we have available, you'll find our website@wisdomonline.org.

In fact, if you prefer looking around for yourself instead of calling us, you'll find the Nehemiah commentary there as well as all of Stephen's other books, audio files, and resources all at that website again.

That's wisdom online.org. We recently heard from a listener named Jodi who said I so appreciate your gifted expounding of truth verse by verse your teaching has been my morning refreshment in the word of the living God. I hope that was your experience today and that she'll join us tomorrow for more wisdom on for the harness