One of the biggest lessons from the story of Nehemiah and the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem was the enormity of the task made possible by the hard work and the giving of every single one of the people who risked all to return to Jerusalem. It was a great moment in the history of God’s people. There was a sense of destiny among the whole assembly. God had led them back for a reason, and when Nehemiah arrived with his plan and his leadership, they all recognized him as their leader and responded in unison. There was no dissent. No complaining. When there was something wrong that needed to be corrected, they recognized it right away and fell in line with the truth.
An example of this was early on in the rebuilding process, when it came to light that the nobles and governors of the small group of roughly 42,000 people were burdening the people with taxes most of the them were unable to pay. Many were forced to mortgage their homes, their fields and their vineyards. “We have had to borrow money to pay the king’s tax,” the people said, and how familiar is that? When Nehemiah heard of it he brought the leaders together and asked them why they were burdening the people when they had a task to accomplish and enemies from outside to defend themselves against. “You are exacting usury from your own countrymen!” Nehemiah told them (Nehemiah 5:7).
“What you are doing is not right,” he went on to say to them. “Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our Gentile enemies? I and my brothers and my men are also lending the people money and grain. But let the exacting of usury [interest] stop! Give back to them immediately their fields, vineyards, olive groves and houses, and also the usury you are charging them — the hundredth part of the money, grain, new wine and oil.”
“We will give it back,” they said. “And we will not demand anything more from them. We will do as you say.” (Nehemiah 5:9-12)
I love them for their attitude. When confronted with doing something wrong, they immediately want to set it right and do whatever is required. This is the attitude of a teachable heart. This is how we grow spiritually and every other way when we have this kind of attitude towards the Lord.
I couldn’t help but wish we could take Nehemiah with us when we talk with the bank this week about our mortgage! But if you folks keep giving as you have been, that won’t matter. We can settle our issues and move on. We are praying for this, but we need you to continue giving. As in Nehemiah’s day, the key is found in a unified effort. It’s how big tasks become smaller. Everyone pulling together makes it possible for each one to do the impossible, which is what it feels like to us right now, but with God, all things are possible.
John Fischer The Catch 
i’ll add a big Amen to this: “…with God, all things are possible.”
John and Marti,
What is the $25,000 “Corporate, Grant, and Foundation” expense on your financial statement (btw, thanks for disclosing the amounts of various ins/outs)? Was that the pay-off amount to rid the Catch of the individual who started this mess? Thanks
My wife and I are members of a small church in Colorado. Our numbers have dwindled down now to only 12 Adult members, all over 50, for two years.We’ve been there 7 years. At our last financial meeting we found out that for the first time in 10 years we were in the negetive side. Pastor told us this is the first signs of our church’s demize. Tithe is bedrock as part of our worship. It brings my wife and me much joy in being faithful in this. A year ago,I had to quit a modest paying job for physical reasons. It reduced our tithe about 1/4. So to say the least, hearing what the Pastor had to say, hit home. A lot of churches are struggling. I noticed the terminology cyber church. You say many consider this minstry their own church for various reasons. All well and good. Where is the accountablity of the TITHE???
The tithe is not New Testament…. watch the legalism, it cuts hard on Grace.
i am simply unable to recall reading any where in the New Test. where the Lord, or any one wrote the Tithe is now done & over, yet I’m opening to learning wat i may not know… I think the tithe jus represents 10% of your income and the N.T. offering should be upove that… To me it all strikes of a bit of being Phasicial – I like to think / believe it should be a balance of legalism and grace and i tend to favor Grace, because it is that, that saved me – yet there still needs to be accountablity…
Joy does’t come to me through iegalism. Wasn’t Abraham a man in God’s care? I lose nothing in following the example of anyone who loves God. Old or New Testament. When I was looking for answers on giving I had to set my emotions aside otherwise I’d lay waste my resposibilities as a family man for good intitions Tithe is not mine, its the Lords. Giving is not just monitary. My Conscious is clear.
Read Marti’s piece on giving. It addresses New Testament “tithing” pretty well, I think.
Maybe this has already been addressed on the blog or in the daily e-mails, and I’m behind the times. I get boatloads of e-mails every day and don’t always pay as much as attention to them as I should. But I noticed recently that my regular contribution was starting to bounce back. The other day, it stopped going out altogether. Any idea what happened and how I can fix it? Thanks for any help you can give.
Thanks for letting us know. As far as I know that’s a PayPal issue. Have you tried addressing them?