The Gospel Made Visible Nehemiah 5:14-19

“Grace is made visible and is most clearly seen through the generosity of believers.” Jonathan Edwards

Nehemiah 5: Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year to the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes the king, twelve years, neither I nor my brothers ate the food allowance of the governor. 15 The former governors who were before me laid heavy burdens on the people and took from them for their daily ration forty shekels of silver. Even their servants lorded it over the people. But I did not do so, because of the fear of God.

Nehemiah 5: I also persevered in the work on this wall, and we acquired no land, and all my servants were gathered there for the work. 17 Moreover, there were at my table 150 men, Jews and officials, besides those who came to us from the nations that were around us.

Nehemiah 5: Now what was prepared at my expense for each day was one ox and six choice sheep and birds, and every ten days all kinds of wine in abundance. Yet for all this I did not demand the food allowance of the governor, because the service was too heavy on this people. 19 Remember for my good, O my God, all that I have done for this people.

Problem: Our entitlement suppresses generosity.

3 Reasons we withhold generosity… Resentment Jealousy Disapproval

Making the Gospel Visible Means… Generosity will costs us something.

John 10: “For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

Making the Gospel Visible Means… Generosity will costs us something. Generosity is motivated by mercy not moralism. Generosity will authenticate a gospel lifestyle.

2 Corinthians 8:9 9 “For you know that grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.”

Romans 5: “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person – though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die – 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5: Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.”

What does that mean for me? Give away something that you can’t get a return on. Invest collectively into the Body of Christ. Do for one what you can’t do for the many.