Devotions/Partners

Nehemiah 13:8 (KJV): “And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber.”

COMMENTARY: While Nehemiah went to Babylon to meet with King Artaxerxes, Eliashib, the high priest in the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem, formed an ungodly alliance with one of the Jews’ adversaries, Tobiah. In fact, Eliashib invited and allowed Tobiah to move into the temple. Isn’t that crazy?  When Nehemiah returned from his trip, he was astounded and immediately “cleaned house.”

APPLICATION: Has your firm formed ungodly strategic alliances with companies that are contrary to the cause of Christ? Are you marketing and selling products and services that are contrary to the Word and the Spirit? Maybe it’s time to clean house!

Let me give you an example. I know a Christian business owner who bought a second business, which derived much of its income and profit from the sale of cigarettes. He thought this business would complement his existing operation and strengthen his company.

Wrong! Just the opposite happened. He took a beating financially and struggled spiritually. He ended up losing big money. He admitted that he knew God didn’t want him to purchase the business, but felt that his company was in desperate need of an infusion of cash. He overrode the promptings of the Holy Spirit (and his Godly wife) and purchased the business anyway. This man eventually cleaned house by unloading the ungodly business and getting back to tending to his original business. As a result, his conscience before God and man became clean and his peace returned.

Of course, it’s going to be awkward to clean house, but it’s worth it!  

Joyfully yours,

Drew

For Further Exploration

For further exploration about Psalms 37:21 (KJV)，read Book 1 (Psalms 1–41) from the Theology of Work Bible Commentary.