CONTROLLING THOUGHT:
Disparity in income between the rich and the poor is not a modern problem; it is an age long issue that plagued Judah in Nehemiah's time
KEY VERSE:
And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, which were sold unto the heathen; and will ye even sell your brethren?
or shall they be sold unto us?
Then held they their peace, and found nothing to answer (Nehemiah 5:8 KJV).
BIBLE TEXT:
Nehemiah 5:1-16 (KJV)
THE MESSAGE:
The gap of income between the rich and the poor is a problem that has not been solved. The gap has been there, and will continue to be there no matter what. Today, the eight richest persons in the world have equal amount of wealth like the poorest's 50 percent. Go through it once more. Every eye is on wealth these days and this is dangerous. If a minor percentage of people control so much wealth and power, you should imagine what it means for the rest of us. Disparity in income between the rich and the poor is not a modern problem; it is an age long issue that plagued Judah in Nehemiah's time.
As I established earlier that, this problem has existed as long as civilization. In portion we read, the people of Judah stood up against those in power. They went to Nehemiah, in demand that something should be done. The wealthy already have demanded taxes and contributions from the people so hard that some of the lower classes need to sell their children to slavery! That was the slavery which the people of Israel escaped from other nations many times in the Old Testament, yet, they have to deal with it from their own people!
Nehemiah went to the nobles and leaders demanding that things be positive changed. It is like the Babylonian exile may have changed the way the rulers thought about their own brethren and more importantly, it seems that they have stopped fearing the Lord their God. The words of Nehemiah positively change that, and the low class people no longer suffer as before.
PRAYER:
Dear God of equity and justice, if the wealthy on earth will listen to the voice of Nehemiah in today's scripture reading: Oh! How the world would change for better, a place for all. We must remain focus and not on the wealth of this world, but the bounty of riches that awaits us, if we follow the part of Christ. Unlike the wealthy in Nehemiah's time and today, the meek shall inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5) Thanks be to You, Lord - Amen.
