In this Bible lesson for older women, we explore Nehemiah 5 to learn how a godly leader stewards wealth with justice and generosity. Discover how to build the kingdom, not just with bricks, but with character and sacrifice.
Introduction
In the 1980s and early 1990s, the CIA was suffering devastating losses. One by one, their informants in the Soviet Union were being arrested, tortured, and executed. It wasn’t enemy fire or battlefield mistakes—it was something far more sinister. The enemy was within.
That enemy was Aldrich Ames, a senior CIA officer entrusted with some of the nation’s most sensitive secrets. He had access to the very heart of American intelligence. But instead of protecting those secrets, Ames sold them to the Soviet Union—for cash. Lavish homes, luxury cars, expensive suits—he traded loyalty for lifestyle.
Over the course of nine years, Ames compromised more CIA assets than any other mole in U.S. history. Brave men and women who risked everything to help America were captured and killed because of his betrayal. Why? For money.
When he was finally arrested in 1994, authorities uncovered over $2.5 million in unexplained wealth—blood money. Ames didn’t just betray his agency—he betrayed his own people to enrich himself.
And in Nehemiah 5, the Israelites were doing the same— profiting off the suffering of their own brothers and sisters. Internal betrayal always costs more than external attack.
The work had almost come to a screeching halt in chapter 4. The external ridicule and pressure from enemies surrounding around the city… led to a sense of fatigue, discouragement, and fear. Nehemiah had addressed those issues with clarity and action… but in chapter 5, it’s not the enemies “out there” that derail the work of God’s people. It’s the sins “within”— within the community, in the family of God that do more harm. Up to this point, Nehemiah had done well dealing with opposition—But it’s almost like these threats from within are the most dangerous ones he’s faced yet…
In the midst of an already enormous challenge—rebuilding Jerusalem’s ruined walls while surrounded by enemies— the people faced a crisis that hit even harder: economic exploitation among their own. Conditions were so dire that workers had to strap swords to their sides just to keep building. Yet many of them couldn’t even afford to eat. Some were being forced to sell their land and even their children to survive.
What made it worse was who was behind it. The very people who should have stood with them—the nobles, the officials—were the ones squeezing them dry. Instead of defending their brothers, they were acting like the enemy.
And Nehemiah—already stretched thin trying to hold the community together and defend it from outside threats—now had to face a breach from within. It’s a “when it rains, it pours” moment. Opposition on every side—inside and out.
Nehemiah 5 gives us a sobering picture of what happens when wealth becomes a wedge among God’s people—and a powerful example of how one godly leader chose to steward riches with justice, not self-interest.
Nehemiah 5 shows us that it is possible to be doing God’s work and still sin against God’s people. It’s possible to be building the wall and simultaneously breaking down the community. It’s possible to wear a sword in one hand and a trowel in the other—and still be blind to the people you’re hurting. We can do that in a LOT of ways. Today, we’ll see how it happened among people who were willing not only to ignore the needs of the brothers working next to them – but to even exploit them in the pursuit of wealth. And Nehemiah 5 tells us that if we don’t steward wealth with justice and generosity, the kingdom suffers. And more importantly—our witness suffers. Let’s walk through the text today.
A Cry From Within – (vv. 1–5)
Here’s verse 1: “Now there was a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their Jewish brothers.”
From the get-go…this is not a small disagreement. It’s a great outcry. The Hebrew word used here is the same one used when Israel cried out under Egyptian slavery. This isn’t a political rally fighting for a social cause. This is honest, genuine desperation… from people in real need.
So much so that even the wives are crying out. In a culture like that, that simple detail tells us that things are bad. Why? Because it may have been out of place for the women to take up this mantle or crying out… but the men are out building the wall, and the moms are home trying to feed their children—and it’s not working. What’s seems to be the issue?
There are at least three levels of economic hardship at play. We see a:
- Lack of Food (v. 2) – “For there were those who said, “We, our sons and our daughters are many; therefore let us get grain that we may eat and live.” They don’t have enough food to survive. The stakes are high and there is this crisis of a food shortage. Some families are large, and the famished land isn’t producing enough. They are crying out to Nehemiah to help.
- Loss of Property (v. 3) – “There were others who said, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards and our houses that we might get grain because of the famine.” That’s a new detail… the people are in the midst of a famine… the people are enduring… but it is severe enough that some are having to mortgage their land—just to buy food. Their inheritance—the very promise of God’s covenant with Israel—is being traded away for survival.
- Loans to pay taxes (v. 4) – “Also there were those who said, “We have borrowed money for the king’s tax on our fields and our vineyards.” The weight of the king’s taxes were taking a heavy toll… and quite possibly on top of the weight of taxes was the reality that tax collectors were notoriously corrupt, inflating tax bills and pocketing the difference. People had to finance loans just to pay the tax burden the man placed on them. And finally… we see how bad it really was in verse 5…
- Enslavement of Children (v. 5) – “Now our flesh is like the flesh of our brothers, our children like their children. Yet behold, we are forcing our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters are forced into bondage already, and we are helpless because our fields and vineyards belong to others.” That’s the worst of it: they are so far in debt, burdened by taxes, they are selling their children into debt-slavery – most likely – servitutde to another until their debts are paid off. Most likely not permanent slavery, but for the duration of the loan. Let that sink in. Verse 5 is brutal… Imagine having to choose between the freedom of your kids and having a way to eat. The people were mortgaging their fields and selling their children into debt-slavery… the people were just trying to survive.
And here’s the kicker… This is not foreign oppression—it’s not Sanballat and Tobiah this time. This is internal. It’s not the Persians, the Samaritans, the Arabs, or any of the surrounding nations from chapter 4. It’s their fellow Jews. The outcry was against their Jewish brothers.
You get the idea that while God’s people are trying to rebuild a wall for God’s glory, some of them are using the opportunity to line their pockets at the expense of their brothers and sisters. The people of God are being exploited by the people of God.
And it’s gotten bad. Families are starving. Children are being sold into debt-slavery. Fields and homes are being mortgaged away. Why? Because those with money were ignoring God’s Law and using the crisis to turn a profit – functioning somewhat like modern-day loan sharks.
Deuteronomy 23:19-20 made it clear: “You shall not charge interest to your countrymen: interest on money, food, or anything that may be loaned at interest. 20 You may charge interest to a foreigner, but to your countrymen you shall not charge interest, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all that you undertake in the land which you are about to enter to possess.”
Under the Old Covenant, Jews were forbidden from charging interest to fellow Jews. They were a covenant community—called to care for one another, lend to one another for no personal profit… certainly not profit from each other’s pain. But now… all that’s been forgotten… or at least ignored…
Verse 5 says it all: “We are helpless.” This is more than an economic crisis—it’s a covenantal crisis. The project to rebuild the wall grinds to a halt because the community is morally crumbling.
This chapter is not just about a financial problem that some crunching of numbers and wiggling the budget around can resolve—this is a spiritual crisis that gets to the heart of who we are and who we are called to be.
It might not look exactly the same for us… but if we’re honest, this same sort of thing can happen today too… we’re not building a physical wall and we’re not part of a nation like the Jewish nation that had been given such specific directions about how to treat each other in the realm of finances. But, we are called to have the same heart – a heart focused on the well-being of those around us – a heart called to steward the resources God has given us for the good of others – a heart more interested in serving people than growing wealth.
And here’s the question we must ask ourselves: Do we ever think about how our financial choices affect others? Do we use our wealth—or even just our influence—to benefit ourselves? And does it come at the expense of someone else? Even unintentionally? Because when God’s people abuse each other economically, it stops kingdom work in its tracks. The greatest overarching question is this: Does Jesus have Lordship of your life, including your finances?
Righteous Anger (vv. 6–13)
Here’s verse 6… “Then I was very angry when I had heard their outcry and these words.” Nehemiah hears the cries, and he burns with righteous indignation. He gets downright mad. But watch what he does next: v. 7, “I consulted with myself and contended with the nobles and the rulers and said to them, “You are exacting usury, each from his brother!” Therefore, I held a great assembly against them.”
It says he “consulted with himself…” … the NIV says, “I pondered them in my mind” … and I don’t know about you, but aren’t you glad that’s in there? He got mad… but he thought before he spoke. He had a moment self-consultation… and in that moment, he probably collected himself, considered how to best move forward… what would be best to say and do. He showed some self-control… that’s a virtue that leaders cannot afford to be without. That’s wise leadership. I would think that moment of reflection informed what he did next. He doesn’t lash out in rage. He thinks. He reflects. And then he acts decisively.
He calls the nobles and officials to account and he lets them know exactly what they’ve been doing. You are loan sharking your own brothers. He calls a public assembly to restore justice and righteousness… and what does he say?
- V. 8, “I said to them, “We according to our ability have redeemed our Jewish brothers who were sold to the nations; now would you even sell your brothers that they may be sold to us?” Then they were silent and could not find a word to say.” He reminds them of what they’re after… they are in the midst of work to redeem their brothers, not re-enslave them… he reminds them, “We’ve worked hard to rescue our people from pagan slavery. Now you’re putting them back in chains – for profit!”
Silence falls. Conviction hits. They have no answer. Nehemiah continues and hits ‘em again. V. 9, “Again I said, “The thing which you are doing is not good; should you not walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the nations, our enemies?” And there’s the kicker… Like, “what you’re doing is wrong… are not afraid of God?? The work of God is being mocked because of your financial sin. You are charging interest to fellow Jews. That is wrong. You are enforcing debt-slavery of the Jews. That is wrong. You are losing your distinction in the eyes of the surrounding nations. That is wrong. And tragic.”
It’s like he was saying, “You guys are over here making a killing – your wallets are stacked. And those Gentiles across the way are looking on, saying, ‘See! They’re just like everybody else – no different at all; in fact, this whole project is a joke. Money really does make the world go ’round…’” It has the same hold on God’s people that it does on everyone else…
Once again, Nehemiah offers a master class on church work and leadership today… How many churches lose their credibility—not because of bad doctrine—but because of financial scandal, exploitation, or manipulation? He calls them to fear the Lord! Fear of God isn’t just reverence. It’s remembering that we will stand before Him one day. And we will give an account. Do you think Jesus’ lordship over your bank account is not going to be part of that conversation or part of that accounting?
So he calls them to make it right… vv. 10–11, “And likewise I, my brothers and my servants are lending them money and grain. Please, let us leave off this usury. 11 Please, give back to them this very day their fields, their vineyards, their olive groves and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money and of the grain, the new wine and the oil that you are exacting from them.”
Nehemiah isn’t just angry—he’s convicted, too… he says that he and his servants were lending… no mention of slaves, but he was involved in this lending… and in this conviction, he’s acts with wisdom, strategy, and action… he gives clear steps: Stop charging interest – Give back the land, the vineyards, the interest – Make it right. Not just with words—but with action. And do it today! Like, “do not tarry… make it happen ASAP.” And they respond:
Vv. 12-13, “Then they said, “We will give it back and will require nothing from them; we will do exactly as you say.” So I called the priests and took an oath from them that they would do according to this promise. 13 I also shook out the front of my garment and said, “Thus may God shake out every man from his house and from his possessions who does not fulfill this promise; even thus may he be shaken out and emptied.” And all the assembly said, “Amen!” And they praised the Lord. Then the people did according to this promise.”
They make a vow before the priests. Nehemiah seals it with a dramatic act – shaking out his garment and saying that God will shake out of those who don’t follow through with their word… and all the people say “amen” and “praised the Lord.”
Real repentance always leads to real restoration. The things he said to the people are things we should hear in our own pursuit of holiness, too…
- Stop the sin in verse 10. When you know it’s wrong, stop it. Don’t plan to stop. Don’t settle for tapering off. Just stop. Stop sinning.
- Do what you need to do to make it right in verse 11. He gives them specifics for their restitution. Like parenting my 3 year old daughter after she makes a mistake… “what do we need to do to make things right?” – for them, give back their fields, vineyards, houses, and all the interest you’ve taken. Repentance doesn’t settle for sorrow… true repentance is accompanied by action.
- Work the plan in verse 12. They give it back and expect nothing from them. Debt is cancelled. Nehemiah brings the priests and seals their promise with a vow.
He shakes out his garment as a sign – At that point, they would know how serious the vow they just made was. And the people respond, “Amen!” And then—they praised the Lord. Conviction led to correction. Correction led to worship. And worship led to work starting again.
Nehemiah’s Stewardship (vv. 14–18)
This is where many sermons on Nehemiah 5 stop. And some of probably wish this one would, too… but we press on! Nehemiah 5 has more to teach us—because after rebuking the money-mongers, Nehemiah turns the spotlight on himself.
We shift from confrontation to example. He didn’t’ just expect this change from others, he practiced what he preached… and he did it boldly. Nehemiah doesn’t just preach generosity—he lives it. Verses 14–18 show us that Nehemiah had enormous personal wealth. He had the right to the governor’s food allowance and all the economic benefits that came with it. That was a huge salary and lifestyle package. But he refused to take it.
Why? Verse 15b says, “…But I did not do so because of the fear of the Lord.” He’s saying: “Just because I have a right to something doesn’t mean it’s right for me to take it.” We learn that he personally funded his leadership and personally foot the bill for other people’s food. For 12 years he was the governor. And yet… he chose not to take advantage of that role and its perks. Why?… because the “servitude was heavy on this people” (v. 18). So he feared God and he loved people. And that impacted what he did with his finances. Those two convictions ought to shape how we treat our bank accounts, too.
Here are the specifics of that generosity… he fed 150 people daily at his own table—plus guests from other nations. That’s a huge expense. One ox and six sheep a day. Wine every 10 days. An open house, every day, for over a decade. Do you think he took this seriously?? It costs a lot of money to feed people! That’s astonishing wealth. But Nehemiah didn’t use it to enrich himself. He used it to bless others and advance the work. He didn’t need to do this. He chose to – for fear of God, and for love of people.
Nehemiah had a millionaire’s budget—but he lived a wartime lifestyle. He was living under burden, not indulgence. And he was building God’s kingdom with his money—not his ego.
Why? Because he worshiped God—not money. Because he feared the Lord—not the loss of luxury. Because he believed in a better reward than gourmet meals or political prestige.
He prays once more in verse 19… no surprise there… he’s constantly praying… “Remember me, O my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.” Nehemiah’s generosity wasn’t guilt-driven. It was God-driven. He was living for the reward of heaven, not the comforts of earth. This is not a self-righteous brag. It’s a humble appeal: “Lord, You see. You know. I’m living for Your reward.” Let’s get practical here… let’s talk about money in church this morning…
Gospel Economics in Real Life
Let’s take all of this and bring it home. Because Nehemiah 5 isn’t just about ancient interest rates. It’s about how God’s people use what they’ve been given to reflect God’s heart. So, let’s talk about some timeless truths from this text that should shape our worldview around material possessions and financial blessings.
- Wealth is a tool, not a trophy. We’re not called to idolize poverty or glamorize wealth. We are called to steward what God gives—whether that’s a lot or a little. You can be a wealthy Christian who honors God. You can be a poor Christian who worships money and vice versa. The question is not: “how much do you have?” The question is: “Who owns your heart—and what are you doing with what’s in your hands?”
- Wealth is not evil. Worshiping wealth is. It’s not a sin to have money. It’s a sin to idolize it, worship it, love it, or use it to oppress others. Paul told the rich in 1 Timothy 6: “As for the rich… instruct them not to be conceited or fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God… to do good, to be rich in good works, generous and ready to share.”
- Stewardship Means Seeing Others. God doesn’t give us resources just to make our lives easier—He gives them so we can be part of His work. Are there people in our sphere of influence, maybe within our church, who are quietly struggling while others are feasting? Are we sensitive to the Spirit’s leading to give, to help, to invest? Nehemiah lived open-handedly. Not because someone forced him—but because he feared the Lord and loved His people.
- Good stewardship includes generosity, justice, and joy. Like the ant in Proverbs 6, we save wisely. Like Zacchaeus in Luke 19, we give generously. Like Nehemiah 5, we treat others justly. Whether your salary is $30,000 or $300,000, the goal is the same: glorify God with your money.
- God is the true owner of everything. Psalm 24:1, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.” Everything you have is on loan from God. You’re not an owner—you’re a steward.
- The Gospel is the Ultimate Example of Generosity. Jesus didn’t just give up an allowance—He gave up heaven. He didn’t just forego comfort—He bore a cross. “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.” – 2 Corinthians 8:9. Just to be clear… Paul is talking about God’s grace… not our bank accounts… Christ gave up everything, even Himself, so that we would be rich… IN HIS GRACE. Which means, if you’re in Christ… you’re among the richest people in the world. We give—not to earn God’s favor—but because in Him we have already received “…redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us.” – Ephesians 1:7b-8.
- The World is Watching. The way we treat others and use our wealth will either serve as a beacon of light that calls people toward God – or it will give them ammunition to say we are no different than anyone else…
Conclusion
Nehemiah didn’t build the wall for the sake of building the wall. He didn’t build the wall just with bricks. He built it with sacrifice, character, and justice. And he did it all for the Lord.
So let me ask you some diagnostic questions as we close:
- Are you using your money to build the kingdom—or to build comfort?
- Are there places where God is calling you to repent financially?
- Is there a Nehemiah-sized burden on your heart for someone in need?
That’s a life well-lived. That’s a name worth remembering. That’s a “whatever it takes” kind of life. That’s a reward worth waiting for. Let’s be a people who live simply, give generously, serve joyfully, and build faithfully. Because we have work to do—and the world is watching.