Nehemiah 5:15
“But the previous governors who were before me laid burdens on the people and took from them bread and wine besides forty shekels of silver; even their servants domineered the people. But I did not do so because of my fear of God.”
Nehemiah is saying that he didn’t abuse the people. He could have taxed them. However, he had the conviction that he wasn’t to do so. He credits his fear of God. That’s great. It may have been a conviction that God put in him or it may have been one that he had.
We all have our convictions. Some are from God and others are ones we have. Romans 14:22 says, “Keep your belief about such matters between yourself and God.” I see these convictions as different from commandments. The commandments are for all of us to follow. But convictions are more personal. The previous rulers may not have been wrong to tax the people, but to Nehemiah it would have been.
Earlier in Romans 14 Paul expounds on the topic of eating meat. He’s talking about the butcher shops outside of Jerusalem and how much of their meat had been offered to idols. To Paul it was no big deal. He could buy it and eat it with no offense. However, others think it’s wrong. He concludes that those who have the faith to eat it should do so while those who think it’s wrong shouldn’t.
He’s indicating that these convictions could change in time. I’ve experienced this. He’s referring to our faith being weak or strong. The faith of a believer should grow over time. Unfortunately for some it doesn’t. There will all sorts of things that hang them up.
When I was a young believer I had many things that would cause to to feel guilty. What changed was my understanding of God and His grace. Jesus paid the price for our sins. We’re forgiven. He also loves us and wants us to enjoy life. We still have to obey what scripture says. However that leaves much open to do.
When it comes to Paul’s argument about meat I can see how someone would be offended by eating meat offered to idols. However, we’ve been forgiven. Paul says in I Corinthians 6:12, ‘”All things are lawful for me”, but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me”, but I will not be dominated by anything.’ He’s not referring to commands. We all have to obey those. He’s talking about the gray areas in which the bible is silent.
In Romans 14:3 it says, “The one who eats everything must not belittle the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted him.” We are to follow the law of love. We aren’t to belittle. We also aren’t to exercise our liberties in front of those who don’t have those liberties. As they may want to copy us and then fall under condemnation.
We demonstrate our fear of God by following the bible and following our convictions. Nehemiah did this. We to do so as well. These are guidelines that keep us in His way. Thank You, Lord, for them.
Romans 14:4 also says, “Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.” This is great. God will make us stand. I had many doubts as a young believer. But here I am 47 years later and He has kept me. Thank You, Lord.