Why cultivating generosity matters (Neh 5:14-19)

Thinking of generosity, numerous examples spring to mind when Christians helped and supported me. When I was a volunteer in a Christian youth hostel in Israel, my money was stolen early on, and the manager reimbursed me from the emergency funds even though the hostel was in financial difficulties. When that same year my brother got married, the other volunteers at the hostel put money together so I could fly home for his wedding. When in Durham (UK), a Christian PhD student gave me the tithe of his two-year scholarship even though he had a large family (five children and a wife at home looking after them). I can think of endless other examples when I was lonely and Christians invited me for dinner, disrupted their own day and night to pick me up from an airport, helped me move and were open-handed with money, time and possessions. Beyond love and care for others, there is an additional reason why generosity should matter to us, Christians.

Nehemiah’s conduct as governor

Nehemiah’s defence of his own conduct explores this issue. He reflects on his twelve years as governor – from the time he returned to build the wall – and gives an account of those years (Neh 5:14). Food allowance was part of the governor’s expense account that was deducted from the Persian taxes collected from the Jews and, as a public person who had to entertain local officials and visiting foreign diplomats, this was a sensible arrangement. Nevertheless, it could easily be abused by putting on lavish banquets for relatives or by underlings taking their cut of the provisions thereby burdening the tax-paying population further (Neh 5:15). Nehemiah, however, did not demand even what was reasonably his due. Rather, he financed the daily meals and, judging by the number of people attending, this was a considerable expense (Neh 5:17-18). Clearly, Nehemiah was a wealthy man and a generous one. He also set an example by his hands-on involvement in the wall building (Neh 4:23; 5:16) and while he lent money to the needy, he evidently did not use it as an opportunity to acquire other people’s land, unlike others (Neh 5:10, 16).

Nehemiah’s motivation: compassion and fear of God

Nehemiah’s motivation comes across through his account. His concluding remarks suggest compassion for the people because they carried a heavy burden (Neh 5:18). He also mentions, both here and earlier ‘the fear of God’ as the reason (Neh 5:9, 15). This expression has its origin in the context of taking advantage or abusing someone who is weak. Those who fear God, i.e. show Him reverence, know that He sees such injustices even when no one else does and when the vulnerable cannot defend themselves, He comes to their aid (e.g. Lev 19:14; 25:17). Later, ‘fear of God’ became a shorthand for godly behaviour in general (e.g. Deut 10:12). Nehemiah genuinely cared for people, and he also desired to serve God faithfully.

God’s reputation at stake

Acting in godly ways mattered to Nehemiah not only because he knew that God saw his deeds but because how the Jews lived also reflected on their God. This is not explained in our reading today but hinted at in the earlier episode where Nehemiah confronts the Jews and encourages godly behaviour (‘fear of God’) to avoid the mocking of the Gentiles (Neh 5:9). People in the ancient world drew conclusions about God by looking at His worshippers. If a group lived in servitude, then their God was weak. Thus, even though the fate of the Jews and their lowly status was the result of their earlier sin, this reflected badly on God’s reputation.

Reflecting the character of God

Today, there is still a connection between how Christians behave and how our God is seen by outsiders. Many give up on God because they meet tight-fisted or unfriendly Christians and conclude that their God is no better. Conversely, I remember the testimony of international students in the UK, who were drawn to the Christian God because they met the generosity of Christians who gave their time and friendship, as well as shared the gospel in words. Generosity to others should matter to us not only because we care for the wellbeing of others – though obviously this is important – but because the Lord Himself cares and when we show sacrificial love and open-handed kindness, we reflect the character of God who gave Himself for us (2 Cor 8:9)

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