Example of Sacrificial Ministry — Part 1 — Neh. 5:14-15

“I deserve better.“ Don’t you frequently think that about your sacrificial service for the Lord? I mean here we are doing the hard work of trying to start a local church – that’s what’s at the heart of the Great Commission.

Is it wrong for people to shower respect and personal favors and material compensation upon their spiritual leaders? No! That is not the lesson here.

- But demanding and expecting such treatment is wrong.

- Not being sensitive to your situation and what the Lord is trying to accomplish is wrong.

- Placing burdens on the people to whom you minister is wrong.

- Not setting an example of rolling up your sleeves and joining in the tedious part of the work is wrong.

- Thinking that you should be spoiled as a privileged prince or a king is wrong.

Let’s not lose sight of the example of our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and that of the Apostle Paul (saw much of this in our study of 1 Thessalonians) – the preeminent apostle who wrote so much of the NT and started so many productive ministries. What were their expectations and how were they treated?

SPIRITUAL LEADERS MUST SET THE EXAMPLE FOR SACRIFICIAL MINISTRY

This last half of chap. 5 is the balancing contrast to the example of financial exploitation in the ministry that we studied last week.

Ralph Davis: (Re verses 14-19) which are something of an extract out of Nehemiah’s diary. It interrupts the chronological flow of the matter at hand (cf. v. 14a), but is likely placed here to set forth a positive sample of Nehemiah’s walking in the fear of God (v. 15) over against the heartlessness of the profiteering Jews in verses 1-13.

4 COMMITMENTS EVERY SPIRITUAL LEADER MUST MAKE:

If you are unwilling to make these commitments, do not aspire to spiritual leadership

I. (:14-15) LETTING GO OF RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES —

MODELING SERVANT LEADERSHIP

A. Good Example: Mindset of Foregoing Legitimate Privileges

“Moreover, from the day that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year to the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes, for twelve years, neither I nor my kinsmen have eaten the governor’s food allowance.”

First term of office as governor (445 to 443 BC)

Christ: “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant” (Phil. 2:5-7)

“You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to your. Truly, truly, I say to you a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.” (John 13:13-17)

Apostle Paul: “Do we not have a right to take along a believing wife, even as the rest of the apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? Or do only Barnabas and I not have a right to refrain from working? Who at any time serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat the fruit of it? Or who tends a flock and does not use the milk of the flock? . . . But I have used none of these things . . . What then is my reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may offer the gospel without charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.” (1 Cor. 9:3-18)

B. Bad Example: Mindset of Forced Rule and Feathering One’s Own Nest

1. Laying Burdens on the People

“But the former governors who were before me laid burdens on the people”

Christ: “Come to me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matt. 11:28)

“The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them. They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger.” (Matt. 23:2-4)

Apostle Paul: “Here for this third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you for I do not seek what is yours, but you; for children are not responsible to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. I will most gladly spend and be expended for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less? But be that as it may, I did not burden you myself; nevertheless, crafty fellow that I am, I took you in by deceit. Certainly I have not taken advantage of you through any of those whom I have sent to you, have I? I urged Titus to go, and I sent the brother with him. Titus did not take any advantage of you, did he? Did we not conduct ourselves in the same spirit and walk in the same steps?” (2 Cor. 12: 14-18)

2. Leveraging their Position for Material Prosperity

“and took from them bread and wine besides forty shekels of silver;”

Christ: “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” (Matt. 8:20)

“I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh.” (John 6:51)

Apostle Paul: “Are they servants of Christ? – I speak as if insane – I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.” (2 Cor. 11: 23-27)

Peter: “I do not possess silver and gold” (Acts 3:6)

Illustration: When the citizens of High Wycombe, England, elect a new mayor, all the town councilors are weighed in public, following an ancient custom. Those whose weight is less than or at least not more than when they took office are warmly applauded – they have not grown fat at public expense.

3. Lording it Over the People

“even their servants domineered the people.”

Christ: Completely different leadership style — “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and give His life a ransom for many.” (Matt. 20:25-28)

Apostle Paul: “But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith” (Phil. 2:17)

(Diotrephes in 3 John)

C. Fundamental Motivation: Mindset of Fear of the Lord

“But I did not do so because of the fear of God.”

Prov. 19:23 “The fear of the lord leads to life, so that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil.”

People with a big ego and sense of their own importance have allowed their pride and ambition to suppress their fear of God; they come to believe that they are above the law of God; they deserve special exemptions; they live on a different plane and should not be held to the same accountability that applies to God’s people in general

Matt. 18:1-6 – Instruction on Humility – how would you like to die an awful death by drowning? Good Question: Who will be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

You better not cause one of God’s little ones to stumble or hurt them in any way because you are building an empire for yourself

We do not have to follow the crowd and fall into the same corrupt practices of the world; we need to dare to be a Daniel and stand out and be different

Christ: “I say to you, ‘My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him! Are not five sparrows sold for two cents? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows’.” (Luke 12:4-7)

Apostle Paul: “work out your salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil. 2:12)

Next week:

II. (:16) LABORING AT THE TASK AT HAND –

MODELING PARTNERSHIP COMMITMENT INSTEAD OF EXPLOITATION

III. (:17-18) LEADING BY EXAMPLE IN THE AREA OF GENEROSITY —

MODELING SACRIFICING FOR THE NEEDS OF OTHERS

IV. (:19) LOOKING FOR REWARD FROM GOD – CONCLUSION —

MODELING CONFIDENCE IN GOD’S FAITHFULNESS

Example of Sacrificial Ministry — Part 1 — Neh. 5:14-15

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