Scripture: Nehemiah 9:38—10:39
Sermon Series: Nehemiah: Making a Difference for God – Sermon 12

Last week one of America’s favorite celebrities died, Dolly Parton. Her music struck a chord with everyone. From her autobiographical song, Coat of Many Colors or for office workers, 9 to 5.

Often in secular music there are biblical truths. One that ties into today’s message, ALL IN! was Beyonce’s 2008 hit, Single Ladies (Put a Ring on it). It’s women demanding commitment in their relationships.

Remember The Andy Griffith Show? Barney and Thelma Lou dated 26 years. That’s nothing. Real life couple Octavio Guillen and Adriana Martinez were engaged for 67 years.

God wants commitment. It’s what Nehemiah 8-10 are about. These three chapters form a unit. Israel had been convicted by the reading of God’s Word (chapter 8), which led to a prayer of confession (chapter 9), and is cemented by a written commitment that they all signed (chapter 10).

You’ll never have the fulfilled Christian life Jesus longs for you to have until there is commitment, until you’re ALL IN! The transformation of the gospel is a behavior, not just a belief. Our most powerful message that we’re truly born again is how we behave. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, Your actions speak so loudly, I cannot hear what you are saying. Nehemiah 10 is like the last night at Christian camp, a dedication service.

A little girl on the way home from church, turned to her mother and said, “Mommy, the pastor’s sermon confused me.” Her mom asked, “Why is that?” The little girl replied, “He said that God is bigger than we are. Is that true?” “Yes, it’s true.” “He also said that God lives within us. Is that true too?” Her mom replied, “Yes.” “Well,” the child said, “if God is bigger than us and He lives in us, wouldn’t He show through?” That’s commitment! Commitment means that Jesus shows through!    

Nehemiah 9:38 through 10:25 is a multi-layered commitment that we must have to be healthy Christ-followers. If you’re taking notes…

1. We will commit to obedience, vss. 9:38-10:29.

The rest of the people… and all who have separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the Law of God…all who have knowledge and understanding, join with their brothers, their nobles, and enter into a curse and an oath to walk in God’s Law that was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our Lord and His rules and His statutes (Nehemiah 10:28-29). How many documents have you signed? If you buy a car, you’ll sign or initial your name dozens of times.

When I do a wedding, the bride and groom sign the marriage license. It’s a written vow of: I take you to be my partner, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part.

They were signing that kind of vow to God. Nehemiah 10 is for Jews, living under the Old Testament Law. Our commitment as Christians is different yet there are principles here that apply to us. But this is universal: Building God’s work His way requires a visible commitment to God’s Word.

We have a long list of difficult names. Everyone made the commitment. It ends with and the rest of the people. We don’t know who they were, but they were important to God…and so are you and so is your commitment!

To be accepted by our culture, we can’t water down Scripture. The Bible is intolerant. God didn’t give them options and doesn’t give them to us. The most hateful thing Christians believe is that you must trust the gospel, Christ’s sacrifice on the cross for your sins, to be forgiven and go to heaven.

Our world wants to believe everyone goes to heaven. But John 3:18 says, Whoever believes in [Jesus] is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. God’s Word is intolerant. Jesus is THE only way to salvation and heaven.

They commit to a positive and a negative. There’s blessing in obeying Gods commands but there’s a curse (vs. 29), if they disobey.

It’s true for us, too. If a Christian goes their own way, just as a parent, disciplines a rebellious child out of love, God does the same to us, If God doesn’t discipline you as He does all of His children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really His children at all (Hebrews 11:8, NLT).

They committed to obedience because they were the people of God. As Christ-followers, we commit to obedience because we’re the people of God. Their commitment transformed every aspect of their lives. Being a disciple of Christ isn’t intellectual assent or attending church every week. It’s committing to live the way Jesus would have us to live, 24-7.

It’s why the Bible teaches baptism and church membership. They’re public affirmations. It’s like wearing a jersey for your favorite football team. You want everyone to know what team you love!

By signing together, they encouraged each other in their commitment. We need that. It’s why small groups are vital. Spiritual interaction with other believers encourages spiritual growth. It’s why we want to build an addition. We don’t have enough space for small groups for children or adults. An hour a week in a worship service with the barrage of godless thinking we face isn’t enough for discipleship or developing a biblical worldview. How many of us carry the message of a worship service into Monday or next week?

On your notes, answer this question: Who is one person who has influenced me to live for Jesus? Were they a committed Christian or a casual one? Did they have a lifestyle you’d want? A marriage? A family? A reputation? We all know what made the difference. Commitment. It’s life changing!

Robert Murray McCheyne said, The Christian is a person who makes it easy for others to believe in God.

2. We will commit to having godly families, vs. 30

We will not give our daughters to the peoples of the land or take their daughters for our sons.

The first institute God created was the family. It’s vital to God and must be vital to God’s people. Our cultural chaos comes from redefining family.

What’s going on here is not racial or ethnic. It’s spiritual. Do you think there’d be a problem if a Christian married a Muslim? Yes, it’s two different faiths. That’s the issue here. The people of the land were idol worshippers.

They’d influence future generations to abandon God to worship false gods. King Solomon had 700 wives from varied religions. They stole his heart from God and Solomon worshipped pagan idols.

It’s not that Jews are superior or other races couldn’t be God-worshippers. Jesus’ genealogy in Matthew 1 includes Rahab and Ruth, both from different ethnic groups who turned to God. But some of these Jews had married idol worshipers. Pagan religions included child sacrifice and cult prostitution. By intermarrying the morality of God’s people was seriously compromised.

Does this have any application for us? Yes, after trusting Christ as your Savior, nothing alters your life like marriage. Christ-followers are to only marry Christ-followers. It’s a principle repeated throughout the Bible. Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers (2 Corinthians 6:14).

Missionary dating is dangerous – “I’ll lead them to Christ.” It does happen, yet there are so many heartbreaks where it doesn’t. The best guide is to date a potential mate. Please don’t deliberately disobey God in this area.

The question is not, “Will this relationship work out?” but “Will this relationship enjoy God’s blessing?” To put Jesus first, you must enter a marriage relationship with someone puts Jesus first.

We can only touch on some vital differences if you marry an unbeliever. You don’t have a Common Treasure of knowing Jesus as your Savior. You don’t have a Common Blueprint to build a marriage and home. Yours is the Bible. You don’t have a Common Strength.When you face struggles, you pray to God and draw on His power. You don’t have Common Values. Your children are getting different messages of a worldview. The worst is that you don’t have a Common Final Destination. For me, I know that heaven wouldn’t be heaven if I didn’t know that Jane would be there. 

But what if you have already married an unbeliever or came to Christ, but they didn’t. It was common in New Testament times. It’s why Paul wrote: If any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her. If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him (1 Corinthians 7:12-13). You’re the greatest influence on a lost spouse simply by living like Jesus. So, stay, pray and be Jesus to them.

If you knowingly married an unbeliever, God always forgives and His grace is sufficient. It’s also not enough to just marry a Christian. Marrying an uncommitted Christian can bring more heartache than marrying someone who isn’t a Christian. A backslidden Christian can be miserable to live with because they’re continually under conviction by the Holy Spirit.

This is where a church family fills in the gaps for support, prayer and encouragement. We have your back. I’d encourage you to also find another believer of the same gender to partner with in praying for your lost spouse and being a continual source of godly encouragement for you.

Marriage is hard work. Having a fulfilling one requires two individuals dependent on the gospel and the Lord. Your marriage can be a powerful testimony to a lost culture but not without the empowerment of the Lord.

Sadly, even among Christ-followers, there are not enough Christ-honoring marriages. Sometimes we’re the worst advertisement for God’s plan of marriage and fulfillment. It doesn’t have to be that way – and shouldn’t be.

3. We will commit to order our lives around God, vs. 31.

And if the peoples of the land bring in goods or any grain on the Sabbath day to sell, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or on a holy day. And we will forgo the crops of the seventh year and the exaction of every debt.

The Sabbath is distinctly Jewish. It speaks of the supremacy of God in Israel. The Law prohibited Jews from working on the Sabbath but didn’t say anything about buying from foreigners on the Sabbath. It was a loophole.

But the Jews knew in their hearts it was wrong to buy from foreigners on the Sabbath, and so they agreed to stop. Their spiritual commitment led to some practical changes in how they lived.

The Sabbath was obligatory for two reasons. First, it formalized as a part of their national life the principle that God designed us to rest and replenish our strength. It also set Israel apart from other nations. It was a statement of faith.

People living around them could work seven days a week, but God would provide for Israel if they only worked six. It was another way for Israel to fulfill their role as a light to the nations. And when people wanted to know why they didn’t work seven days, they had an answer in God’s purpose for them. They were obeying God. He’d take care of them.

The Sabbath is not commanded for New Testament Christians. Some believe the Sabbath is now Sunday or the Christian Sabbath. It’s not. The Sabbath was the 7^th day of the week, Saturday. Sabbath observances were for Israel, not New Testament Christians. We worship on Sunday because Jesus rose from the dead on Sunday. The Church was born on Sunday. The early church met on Sunday.

But the principle of setting aside time for rest is still important. God didn’t design us to work continuously. We must trust Him to take care of us even when we use time for rest. We’re not to overwork. The psalmist said, It is vain for you to rise early, come home late, and work so hard for your food. Yes, God can provide for those whom He loves even when they sleep (Psalm 127:2). This is a good reminder for workaholics…like so many of us.

But there is a greater principle. Christ doesn’t want to be just a priority. Jesus must be the hub of our life. Everything touches and centers around Him, work, leisure, family, hobbies – everything. When Jesus is the center, everything runs smoothly. Everything must be submitted to Him.

What are you ordering your life around? The Sabbath says trust Him, keep Him central. That’s for us too. Idolatry takes good things and turns them into ultimate things. We must trust Him and everything must flow from Him.

Chick-fil-a is an example of this. The founder, Truett Cathy made the decision to close on Sundays in 1946 when he opened his first restaurant. Having worked seven days a week in restaurants open 24 hours, Truett saw the importance of closing on Sundays so he and his employees could set aside one day to rest, enjoy time with families or worship if they chose.  

Cathy was a committed believer. Jesus was the hub of his life. Do you know how much the average sales for one Chick-fil-a franchise is a day? $30,000.00. Chick-fil-a loses over $1 billion a year by closing on Sunday.

Jesus as the hub of your life will cost you now, but not in eternity. Is Jesus the center of your life? (Sorry to make you hungry for Chick-fil-a.)

4. We will commit to compassion, vs. 31b.

And we will forgo the crops of the seventh year and the exaction of every debt. Every seven years they were to let the land and fields rest. God is concerned about the environment. We are to use this planet, not abuse it.

That same year they were to forgive or be forgiven debts to or from other Israelites. If you’d loaned someone money, you forgave it. If you’d borrowed money from someone, you’d be forgiven. At the end of every seven years you must declare a cancellation of debts. This is the nature of the cancellation: Every creditor must remit what he has loaned to another person; he must not force payment from his fellow Israelite, for it is to be recognized as ‘the Lord’s cancellation of debts’ (Deuteronomy 15:1-2). It was God’s way of reducing poverty. He knew you could never eliminate poverty, but it could be reduced. It gave debtors an extra year to catch up. In other words, people matter more than money.

Debt is a crippling burden. The Bible doesn’t prohibit debt, but our culture encourages us to live way beyond our means. Many Christians limit their giving because they’re carrying so much debt. Over the years we’ve had some of our financial people meet with those in debt to help them set a budget and begin to eradicate it.

Here’s another principle. We’re to care for others, especially believers. Compassion isn’t just seeing or feeling a need. It’s meeting needs.

When I was in Bible college, my brother, Mark, worked for a big-name clothing manufacturer in New York City. Every once in a while I’d get a big box filled with designer clothes. I didn’t have two nickels to rub together but I was one of the best dressed on campus. He was compassionate.

It takes little for Jane and me when we make a meal, to make extra to share with someone who has limited options or been ill. Compassion is as simple as sending a note or text. If you’re praying for others, periodically let them know. I have a friend whose son went through a bitter divorce and has two sons. The other day I told him I was praying for him. It seemed to surprise him that I remembered his son and what his family was going through.

In a cold, cruel world, we are to be the people of compassion because we know that we have been shown so much compassion by our awesome God!

5. We will commit to prioritizing worship, vss. 32-39. 

These verses involve commands about their various sacrifices under the Law. The phrase house of our God is used nine times. It refers to the restored temple. They were committing to support the work of God. Verse 39 sums it up: We will not neglect the house of our God. The Temple was at the heart of their world. It proclaimed the presence and power of God among His people and the centrality of the spiritual.

Too often we’ve lost worship in the American church. For the Christ-follower, worship is to be a priority. It’s not something we do; it’s something we are. Romans 12:1, I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

It begins by regularly gathering together. Sunday should be a priority. Sunday church is a Saturday night decision. We need to be with each other, sing together, pray together, listen to God’s Word and preaching together. We need to give and serve together. It’s not a show. It’s a family focusing on their heavenly Father together.

Much of this section is about money, so let’s touch on it. Even Seneca the Roman statesman, wisely said, Money has never yet made anyone rich. The Bible never warns against having money. It’s the love of money that’s a problem. The love of money may actually be a bigger problem for the person who has little money than it is for the one who has lots of money.

Here are some warnings about money. Most are found in 1 Timothy 6. Love of money leads to a loss of contentment. It leads to a loss of trust in God. It leads to a loss of balance. It leads to a loss of peace. Finally, the love of money leads to a loss of an eternal perspective on life.

In this section there are principles for worshiping with our giving.

It was responsible giving. Verses 32 and 35 the people say that they obligate themselves… They owned it and gave part of what they owned because they saw it as a privilege and responsibility.

It was obedient giving. They gave in practical obedience. Those who love God obey Him. They were obeying commands to give as it is written in the Law. God had been good to them, so generosity was expected. The support of God’s work wasn’t optional. Everyone was required to give in one form or another. It was another way to demonstrate that God came first.

It was systematic. There was nothing haphazard about their giving. They didn’t do “impulse giving.” They were to bring a third of a silver shekel each year and lots were drawn to determine when families were to bring a contribution of wood. Orderliness and a system followed.

The New Testament teaches systematic giving in 1 Corinthians 16:2: On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income…

It was proportionate. The reference to wood offering suggests that poor people had an opportunity to make a gift to the Lord that required time not money. The temple needed a regular supply of wood to keep the sacrificial fires burning. Anyone, regardless of income, could gather wood for the temple. Israel’s sacrificial system recognized that not everyone could make the same kind of offering, but they could all give an offering. Not equal giving, but equal sacrifice.

It was sacrificial. They were to bring to God’s house the first fruits of their crops and of every fruit tree. To offer the first fruits declared that God was the giver of all things. It was putting Him first, not just the leftovers. Everything belongs to Him. He’s worthy of the best we can offer.

While not everyone can give the same, everyone can make a sacrifice. Someone said, If you give what you do not need, it isn’t giving. C.S. Lewis put it this way, I don’t believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I’m afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare.

It was comprehensive.They were to not only bring their crops and money; they were to also bring their first-born sons and animals to the Lord. God isn’t just interested in our money; He wants something more important; He wants our hearts. That means that He wants everything.

We make a living by what we get but we make a life by what we give. Jesus said, Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Let’s commit to be like these Jews: We will not neglect the house of our God.

Conclusion

Thisgoes to the jugular of our greatest cultural temptations – sex, money, and power. It’s time for believers to put a ring on it. They all signed! Written plans confirm right priorities.

Why do we often limp spiritually, why do churches limp? We want Nehemiah or a few leaders to be the committed ones. Not these Jews in Nehemiah 10. They all signed because they loved God!

One of my heroes was Robertson McQuilkin. He resigned as president of Columbia Bible College, to care for his wife, Muriel, who had Alzheimer’s. He dedicated himself full-time to care for her. He wrote about traveling with her. In one of his books, he wrote:

“Once our flight was delayed in Atlanta and we had to wait a couple of hours. Now that’s a challenge. Every few minutes we’d take a fast-paced walk down the terminal in earnest search of what? Muriel had always been a speed walker. I had to jog to keep up with her.

An attractive woman executive type sat across from us, working diligently on her computer. Once when we returned from an excursion she said something without looking up from her papers. Since no one else was nearby I assumed she had spoken to me or at least mumbled in protest about our constant activity. “Pardon?” I asked. “Oh,” she said, “I was just asking myself, Will I ever find a man to love me like that?”

Robertson turned to this woman and said, Oh yes, you can find a man like that. You can find a man like that, because I’ve found a man like that. The only reason I love my wife the way you see me loving her is because the Man Jesus first loved me. The only resources I have to draw upon to love my wife the way I do are the resources He gives me. Mirrored in my relationship here with my wife you can see the faithful love of God for me.

Robertson McQuilkin was ALL IN! So, were these Jews. Are we ALL IN? Why should you and I be ALL IN? Because the Man Jesus first loved us! That’s why He must be Lord of all! Are you ALL IN?