In the context of the problems within the Israelite community outlined in Nehemiah 5:1-5, let’s review more of Nehemiah’s initial responses to those who were exploiting their brothers.
When I heard their outcry and these charges, I was very angry. I pondered them in my mind and then accused the nobles and officials. I told them, “You are charging your own people interest!” So I called together a large meeting to deal with them and said: “As far as possible, we have bought back our fellow Jews who were sold to the Gentiles. Now you are selling your own people, only for them to be sold back to us!” They kept quiet, because they could find nothing to say.
Nehemiah 5:6-8 NIV
Having discussed in the previous article about how the Israelites were not to charge interest to their fellow Israelites or treat them like slaves, we might also consider other instructions in the Bible about not keeping collateral from a brother or sister when they needed their belongings to survive (see Exodus 22:25-26, for instance, or Deuteronomy 24:10-15 and elsewhere in the Bible). At this point, though, we might wonder where to draw the line on business of any kind, especially within the Kingdom of God.
Do you remember how Joseph helped Pharaoh out? (See Genesis 41 and Genesis 47:13-26) After he interpreted Pharaoh’s dream, Joseph was put in charge of things (perhaps a “grain czar”?). He stockpiled grain from the Egyptian people through 7 good years. Then, in the bad years, he sold it back. When the people’s money ran out, he exchanged their livestock for food. When that ran out, the Egyptian people had to sell their land. Then, Joseph provided seed for them to plant, but they had to give 20% of their harvest back to Pharaoh.
In some circles today, if we told that story and what the leaders in Nehemiah’s time were doing, some people would applaud the success of those who were profiting. From a purely business standpoint, both of these plans were highly successful for the rich who had the resources that their fellow residents needed.
However, while I believe that God gives some people a great sense for business (intending for them to use that skill for good), there comes a time when adding to our own wealth in the wrong way comes at the expense of our fellow brothers and sisters. In Nehemiah’s time, these were literal members of the same people group. I hope that we can agree that exploiting our immediate and extended family for personal gain isn’t right. However, I think that this also applies to fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, and might even apply to those in need who Jesus defines as our neighbors. (See Luke 10:25-37)
So, in light of these considerations, one might ask if a Christian can ever be in the business world at all. Doesn’t every business pretty much transfer the funds of one party (often the consumer) to another party (often a company), who pays suppliers, employees, and shareholders? How can we have business without profit? Does charging someone more than our cost for goods and services mean that we are exploiting them?
I’m not sure if I know a simple Biblical summary of this, but business transactions do exist in the Bible, so I don’t think that we should rule them out entirely. As a result, I propose the following characteristics of a God-honoring business, but welcome your thoughts in the comments below, as well.
- Exchanges should be fair: One person works; another person pays them. The cost of an item is directly related to its value. Necessities aren’t overpriced to gouge people when supplies are scarce. As the Lookout (cited below) suggests, the well-being of the community is more important than the selfishness of an individual.
- The business model should not be exploitative: A company should have a plan that makes enough money to pay its workers, but it should not be designed to destroy people, enslave them to ongoing payments, or take advantage of their basic human needs in order to overcharge them.
And, specifically as Christians, we need to take care of our own. This isn’t just something that Nehemiah did, or something that I made up. Please read the following passages from the New Testament (either through the link provided, or in your own Bible), and see if you come to the same conclusion: Acts 4:32-35 (see also Acts 2:42-47), 1 Timothy 5:8, and Galatians 6:10.
Do you know any Christians who have needs that you can fill? I’m not saying that any one of us can personally provide for every need in the church around the world, but maybe you have a surplus of something that another Christian needs. This isn’t just money (although there are times when we may need to give or loan money to a fellow Christian with no interest, no terms, and no guilt about getting it paid back right away). It could also be food, something you own that you don’t need, a gift of your time and skills, or something else. If they are in need, and you have extra, are you willing to share?
Even more importantly, though, are you taking advantage of a fellow Christian? I hope not, but anyone treating a fellow Christian worse than an unbeliever has gotten their priorities out of sync.
So, if you are employed or an employer, or if you are just sharing what you have with others, don’t be afraid to earn some money fairly so that you can use it for God’s purposes. Just remember that we are merely stewards of what God has given us, though, and He decides how we should use it (even if that means giving it away). In God’s Kingdom, souls matter a lot more than stuff.
From Sunday School lesson prepared for February 19, 2023
References:
- The Lookout, February 19, 2023, © 2022 Christian Standard Media.
- Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
- The College Press NIV Commentary – Ezra-Nehemiah, by Keith Schoville. © 2001 College Press Publishing Co.
Those Who Sin Differently 