More Than Money More Than Us: A Vision from God, A Work for All Pastor Kile Baker October 19th, 2025 Nehemiah 5 1There was a widespread outcry from the people and their wives against their Jewish countrymen. 2 Some were saying, “We, our sons, and our daughters are numerous. Let us get grain so that we can eat and live.” 3 Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, vineyards, and homes to get grain during the famine.” 4 Still others were saying, “We have borrowed money to pay the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards. 5 We and our children are just like our countrymen and their children, yet we are subjecting our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters are already enslaved, but we are powerless because our fields and vineyards belong to others.” 6 I became extremely angry when I heard their outcry and these complaints. 7 After seriously considering the matter, I accused the nobles and officials, saying to them, “Each of you is charging his countrymen interest.” So I called a large assembly against them 8 and said, “We have done our best to buy back our Jewish countrymen who were sold to foreigners, but now you sell your own countrymen, and we have to buy them back.” They remained silent and could not say a word. 9 Then I said, “What you are doing isn’t right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God and not invite the reproach of our foreign enemies? 10 Even I, as well as my brothers and my servants, have been lending them money and grain. Please, let’s stop charging this interest. 11 Return their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and houses to them immediately, along with the percentage of the money, grain, new wine, and fresh oil that you have been assessing them.” 12 They responded, “We will return these things and require nothing more from them. We will do as you say.” So I summoned the priests and made everyone take an oath to do this. 13 I also shook the folds of my robe and said, “May God likewise shake from his house and property everyone who doesn’t keep this promise. May he be shaken out and have nothing! ” The whole assembly said, “Amen,” and they praised the Lord. Then the people did as they had promised. A few things to note: There is no mention of building of the wall, but there are in chapters 4 & 6. Another way to put it is, the internal strife over mismanaged finances, extortion of their fellow countrymen, and oppression of taxation and interest halted everything. Finances devoted to God will build a community; but money used selfishly will ruin it. This was not an economic problem, it was a theological one. Because their resources were not being used in conjunction with their covenantal relationship with God. To put this another way: The people of God had “opted in” to living their life on God’s terms. God was restoring their city, their life, etc., and this was another moment for them to return to God. This was public accountability, and they admitted their fault, saying amen because God wants justice to be done in His name. What does Jesus say about this? Luke 16:10-13 10 Whoever is faithful in very little is also faithful in much, and whoever is unrighteous in very little is also unrighteous in much. 11 So if you have not been faithful with worldly wealth, who will trust you with what is genuine? 12 And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to someone else, who will give you what is your own? 13 No servant can serve two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” You can’t serve both God and money, but you can serve God through your money. How do you serve God, through your money? Stewardship is about managing faithfully. Everything you have—your job, your money, your talents, your breath—comes from God. Here’s a way to think about it: We believe that God created this earth, the solar system, and everything that lives here or anywhere. At one point nothing existed, except God, and in His infinite grace, He created time, space, life, and the conditions that life can go on. He made everything good - which is basically the opening of the Bible, the creation narrative. Then he made people and gave it all to them - including everything valuable. Civilizations continually advanced, and started building, developing, and using what God has made good, to make other good things. To put it another way, humans cannot and have never created anything out of nothing. We always have to take something God has made, to make something else. Which means, every coin, card, monetary medium is made from something God already created. Big question: God what do you want to do, with what you’ve put into my hands? Before you give any money, you have to see all of your money as God’s. You’re the manager. God has entrusted you. Challenge: Take back control of your finances. Track everything, have tough conversations that are needed in your household. Don’t ignore the credit card, or medical bills. Make a plan to get out. Trim out unnecessary spending, go on a financial diet. Generosity is about investing joyfully. The Bible says God loves a cheerful giver. Why? Because generosity says, “I trust You God more than I trust this money.” You could use that money for you—but instead, you’re choosing to use it for others. That’s the heart of Jesus. Challenge: 90 day giving challenge to our general fund. Start at 5%, aim for 10%. Alongside you tracking your giving, track how your heart is going along the way. Do you feel bitter? When you see that money leaving, do you think about what you could buy, what you need to buy, or something else? Can you get to a place of Joy? Switch from giving occasionally, to giving regularly. This helps transfer your dependence on God.Giving regularly will grow your faith and your dependence on God. Big Statement: God uses money to reach and help people I may never meet. Sacrifice is about surrendering willfully. True sacrifice means it costs you something. It’s not the leftovers. It’s not convenient. Giving sacrificially is when it stings a little—and strengthens your faith a lot. This initiative will require all three - for you to manage Challenge: Over the next three weeks ask God - “What would you have us give in a lump sum that would require faith?” Bottom Line: Sacrificing for God is not about the amount—it’s about heart alignment.