Monday: Selfish Attacks from Within
Text: Now the men and their wives raised a great outcry against their fellow Jews.2 Some were saying, “We and our sons and daughters are numerous; in order for us to eat and stay alive, we must get grain.” (Nehemiah 5:1-2, NIV)
Teach: Chapter 4 ended so positively. But now the work has stopped because there is strife and disunity among the people. The building project had been funded by King Artaxerxes, but there were definite money problems for the people. They had been working so hard on the wall that they were unable to do their normal work to be able to provide for their families.
Take: Statistically, over half of marriages end in divorce and most of those are due to issues related to money. I read several articles about credit card debt and the numbers are staggering. In general, it seems we are out of control, driven to accumulate more, and our marriages and families are suffering because of it.
Task: In Luke 12 we find Jesus’ teaching about the Rich Fool who lost his life while trying to build bigger barns. He goes on to speak to his followers about how to find contentment, wrapping it up by telling them, “where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (see Luke 12:34)
In your quiet time, ask God to show you where your treasure is, what your treasure is, and how you are caring for it. Check your balance and your control.
Pot of Manna 