Foregoing Rights

“Moreover…when I was appointed…in the land…neither I nor my brothers ate the food allotted…But out of reverence for God I did not act like that. Instead, I devoted myself to the work on this wall. All my men were assembled there for work; we did not acquire any land.” Nehemiah 5:14-16.

Nehemiah became governor of Jerusalem during the time of the rebuilding of the wall. He was entitled to a governor’s salary, privilege and certain rights of obtaining material possessions at the sacrifice of his people. God had given Nehemiah a passion with purpose, and out of reverence to God he sacrificed the rights and entitlements that were his.

I love when I see the Christian principles in the Bible played out in my own family. My mother and daddy would consistently place the good of others in front of their own good. When Daddy retired from the secular world, God called him into the ministry of Child Evangelism Fellowship. He worked full time in that ministry as Director for ten years and operated on a budget for the ministry. He and Mother knew that any salary drawn from CEF would take away money for God’s work in bringing children to Christ. They were definitely entitled to receive wages for Daddy’s work but like Nehemiah, they had a passion for God’s purpose in their lives and decided to forego a salary. In reading my commentary, I lost track of who they were speaking of…Nehemiah or my parents.

‘He would honor God more by putting the welfare of the people ahead of his own gains, even if he could legally justify these privileges. By waiving his salary and never charging, he was essentially saying, ‘If it will help my people, I don’t need any more than what I already have…In essence, he loved the people far more than the money could provide him.’ Nehemiah, p. 71-71.

When God has placed something on your heart He will provide the means to carry it through to completion. ‘If God is asking you to lie something down for the greater good, He is able to repay you lavishly. Your rights will never outrun His blessings, even if those blessings aren’t revealed until heaven.’ Nehemiah, p. 73. I love one definition of forgoing: giving up the comforts of home while traveling. We are all traveling home towards heaven and there will be certain things God will ask us to forego for the good of others.

‘Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers…not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.’ 1 Peter 5:2-3.

I know that Daddy is experiencing amazing blessings up in heaven from ‘working on his wall’ and placing God’s calling in life ahead of anything he could have done apart from God’s will. We are all called to be shepherds of God’s flock and to build walls of service depending on the passion for which He places in our hearts.