“I also learned that the portions
assigned to the Levites had not been given to them, and that all the Levites
and singers had gone back to their own fields. So I rebuked the officials and
asked them, “Why is the house of God neglected? Then I called them together and
stationed them at their posts. All Judah brought the tithes of grain, new wine,
and oil into the storerooms.”
Nehemiah
13:10-12
The
second gaping hole Nehemiah addressed upon his return to Jerusalem was the
neglect of God’s house. During his absence the people became consumed with
their own lives, families, and ambitions. They stopped tithing and stopped
coming to the temple to worship. They neglected the house of God.
Because
of this the Levites and singers became disheartened and could no longer provide
for their families. They abandoned their positions and returned to their
fields. I think, at times, we fail to see the significance we (individually and
as a family) carry within the body of Christ.
It
may not seem that one individual or family, who neglects their responsibilities
towards God’s house, could have a very big impact on the corporate worship of a
church, however, when that mentality begins to be shared by a growing majority;
it isn’t long before the effectiveness, passion, and sustainability of that
congregation is threatened.
Nehemiah
recognized this and rebuked the officials for their lackadaisical attitudes. He
called them together and stationed them at their posts. He restored full
worship in the temple and the scripture tells us that “All Judah” brought in
the tithes. They all participated. No one neglected their responsibilities. They
gave, served, and ministered as a faithful body of believers.
This
is a gaping hole still visible in many congregations today. Individuals and
families have become consumed with their own lives, families, and ambitions.
They have stopped tithing, stopped serving, and stopped attending services
regularly; not realizing that their failure to fulfill their responsibility in
the Body of Christ has threatened the effectiveness, passion, and
sustainability of that local body of believers.
This
means that fewer lost people are hearing about Christ, fewer missionaries are
being sent to the far reaches of the earth, fewer people are seeing their
marriages restored, burdens lifted, and families delivered from life
controlling issues.
As
born again believers, we are members of the body of Christ, which means our
absence and neglect of God’s house leaves a gaping hole. Consider today what
you personally need to do to repair that breach!
Pastor Scott
Burr
http://faithandworshipseries.blogspot.com/
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