"Whatever you want others to do for you, do so for them. "
Matthew 7:12
DON'T MAKE HIM LOOK BAD
Read It: Nehemiah 5:9-13
One of the best things you can do to impact your community for Christ and transform your culture is to maintain a spotless public testimony. Why? Because you are a representative of the eternal God. When you do poor business, you make God look bad. When you cannot pay your bills, you make God look bad. When you refuse to be responsible for your actions, you make God look bad. When you fail to care for your family, you make God look bad. Nehemiah told the rulers and nobles of his day to give the people back their property and the interest money these nobles got by overcharging the people. There's a way to start a revival. Suppose every Christian businessperson nessperson went back to everyone he or she had done sloppy work for and said, "I didn't do a good job. Since I'm a Christian, I represent Jesus Christ. So let me make it right with you." The principle here is restitution. You messed it up; you take responsibility bility to get it fixed. You don't just say, "I'm sorry; it will never happen again." You fix that mess. This is what Nehemiah demanded. This principle is New Testament also. You remember Zaccheus (Luke 19)?
He came down out of that tree when the Lord saved him and said, "I am going to pay back everyone I cheated four times more than I stole." So the businessmen of Jerusalem agreed with Nehemiah and promised to do right. But that wasn't good enough for Nehemiah. He called the priests and made them swear an oath. This was a "self-maledictory" oath, meaning you call down doom on yourself if you don't fulfill your promise. Actually, we make commitments like that today. If you are married, you made an oath. You promised to love, honor, and cherish your partner ner in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, as long as you both shall live. Then you said, "So help me, God." That was a "self-maledictory" oath, like Nehemiah shaking out his robe as a sign that if you don't fulfill the oath, then the punishment will come upon you. Got any promises you are behind in keeping? Better catch up! Think About It If we're going to have renewed communities and a transformed culture, God's people will have to start keeping their promises.
No Comments