““If an enemy were insulting me, I If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were raising could endure it; if a foe were raising

himself against me, I could hide himself against me, I could hide from him. But it is you, a man like from him. But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close myself, my companion, my close friend, with whom I once enjoyed friend, with whom I once enjoyed

sweet fellowship as we walked with sweet fellowship as we walked with the throng at the house of God.” the throng at the house of God.”

(Ps. 55:12-14)(Ps. 55:12-14)

““Now the men and their wives Now the men and their wives raised a great outcry raised a great outcry

against their Jewish brothers. Some against their Jewish brothers. Some were saying, ‘We and our sons and were saying, ‘We and our sons and daughters are numerous; in order daughters are numerous; in order

for us to eat and for us to eat and stay alive, we must get grain.’stay alive, we must get grain.’

Others were saying, ‘We are Others were saying, ‘We are mortgaging our fields, our mortgaging our fields, our

vineyards and our homes to get vineyards and our homes to get grain during the famine.’ Still others grain during the famine.’ Still others

were saying, ‘We have had to were saying, ‘We have had to borrow money to pay the king's tax borrow money to pay the king's tax

on our fields and vineyards.on our fields and vineyards.

Although we are of the same flesh and Although we are of the same flesh and blood as our countrymen and though blood as our countrymen and though our sons are as good as theirs, yet we our sons are as good as theirs, yet we

have to subject our sons and daughters have to subject our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters have to slavery. Some of our daughters have

already been enslaved, but we are already been enslaved, but we are powerless, because our fields and our powerless, because our fields and our

vineyards belong to others.’” vineyards belong to others.’” (Nehemiah 5:1-5)(Nehemiah 5:1-5)

A SUBSTANTIAL A SUBSTANTIAL COMPLAINTCOMPLAINT1.1.Shortage of FoodShortage of Food

2.2.Mortgaged PropertiesMortgaged Properties

3.3.Severe DebtSevere Debt

4.4.ExploitationExploitation

A SUCCESSFUL COURSEA SUCCESSFUL COURSE1.1.Listened to the ComplaintListened to the Complaint

2.2.Confronted the ProblemConfronted the Problem

““When I heard their outcry and When I heard their outcry and these charges, I was very angry. I these charges, I was very angry. I pondered them in my mind and pondered them in my mind and

then then accused the nobles and officials. I accused the nobles and officials. I told them, ‘You are exacting usury told them, ‘You are exacting usury from your own countrymen!’….”from your own countrymen!’….”

(vv. 5:6-7)(vv. 5:6-7)

““If your brother sins against you, go If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, the two of you. If he listens to you,

you have won your brother over. But if you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two he will not listen, take one or two

others along, so that 'every matter others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony may be established by the testimony

of two or three witnesses.'of two or three witnesses.'

If he refuses to listen to them, tell it If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him listen even to the church, treat him

as you would a pagan or a tax as you would a pagan or a tax collector. (Matt. 18:15-17 NIV)collector. (Matt. 18:15-17 NIV)

““Give back to them immediately their Give back to them immediately their fields, vineyards, olive groves and fields, vineyards, olive groves and houses, and also the usury you are houses, and also the usury you are charging them—the hundredth part charging them—the hundredth part of the money, grain, new wine and of the money, grain, new wine and

oil.” (Nehemiah 5:11)oil.” (Nehemiah 5:11)

““If you lend money to one of my If you lend money to one of my people among you who is people among you who is

needy, do not be like a needy, do not be like a moneylender; charge him no moneylender; charge him no

interest.” (Exodus 22:25)interest.” (Exodus 22:25)

A SINCERE COMPASSIONA SINCERE COMPASSION““When I heard their outcry and these When I heard their outcry and these

charges, I was very angry. I charges, I was very angry. I pondered them in my mind and then pondered them in my mind and then accused the nobles and officials. I accused the nobles and officials. I told them, ‘You are exacting usury told them, ‘You are exacting usury from your own countrymen!’…. (vv from your own countrymen!’…. (vv

5:6-7)5:6-7)

A SINCERE COMPASSIONA SINCERE COMPASSION““In your anger do not sin…” In your anger do not sin…”

(Ephesians 4:26)(Ephesians 4:26)

A SINCERE COMPASSIONA SINCERE COMPASSION

IMPORTANT TRUTH:IMPORTANT TRUTH:Appropriately expressed Appropriately expressed

anger is kept under anger is kept under control.control.

3 ADDITIONAL GODLY 3 ADDITIONAL GODLY TRAITSTRAITS1.1. PRACTICE WHAT YOUR PRACTICE WHAT YOUR

PREACH.PREACH.

2.2. CONSISTENTLY CARE CONSISTENTLY CARE FOR THE NEEDS OF FOR THE NEEDS OF OTHERS.OTHERS.

3.3. BE MOTIVATED BY BE MOTIVATED BY REVERENCE FOR THE REVERENCE FOR THE LORD.LORD.