“After serious thought, I rebuked the nobles and rulers, and said to them, ‘Each of you is exacting usury from his brother.’” (Nehemiah 5:7, NKJV)

In any work for the Lord there is opposition from the outside and from the inside. Nehemiah dealt with the external threats with prayer and posting armed guards. But the internal threats were not as easy to deal with. When the enemy is among us, when he is a wolf in sheep’s clothing, or a pretender, then he is much harder to identify and harder to deal with. Jesus told the parable of the wheat and the tares. The devil sometimes plants his servants among the servants of the Lord. Those on the inside can do much more damage because others trust them. Satan learned long ago that if you can’t beat them, join them!

In the case of Nehemiah, the nobles and rulers were lending to their poor Jewish brethren at interest, which was something they were forbidden to do in the Law. Consequently, the people had to mortgage their homes and farms, and some were even selling their sons and daughters as slaves just to live! But still they did not have enough food to eat. When Nehemiah heard about this, he was indignant! After seriously considering the matter, he accused the nobles and officials of unlawfully charging interest. For the sake of greed, they were causing their Jewish brethren, who had been delivered from Babylonian slavery, to be slaves again! So Nehemiah said to them:

“Let us abandon this exacting of interest. Return to them this very day their fields, their vineyards, their olive orchards, and their houses, and the percentage of money, grain, wine, and oil that you have been exacting from them.” (Nehemiah 5:10–11, ESV)

Surprisingly, the people agreed to do everything that Nehemiah said. This shows us how much respect they had for him. But Nehemiah wasn’t taking any chances. He called the priests and made them swear to do as they promised. Then he shook out his garment and said, “May God shake out from his home and property anyone who does not keep this promise.”

As Christians, we ought to take care of each other. We should never deceive, cheat, or in any other way take advantage of another brother or sister. We should apply the Golden Rule. If we always do to others what we would want them to do to us, then we will do well. If we love one another as Jesus loves us, then we will be obeying the Lord’s commandment. May God help us truly care for one another. Jesus said that whatever we do to one of the least of these, we are doing to Him (Matthew 25:40).

Heavenly Father, thank you for your heart of compassion for everyone. Help us love others as you love us. Forgive us when we have been self-serving. Help us do for others as we would want them to do for us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.