I wonder if we are living lives that are so busy, so self-focused, so stressful and so "important" that we forget to think about those people who can easily be forgotten? Fred Craddock tells a story of being at an important Bible conference. High topics, great scholars, lots to learn and important discussions. When the conference was over, an unexpected snow storm trapped them all in a northern city, and Fred found himself in a crowded diner with people from all walks of life. While he was eating a bad version of soup, a poor woman (poorly dressed for the cold) walked in and asked for a glass of water. The proprietor responded, "No order, no water. Order, or get out!" A working-class woman stood up and said, "If she can't stay, none of us will stay!" All eyes were on the owner, and he said, "All right, she can stay." Fred looked at his gray soup, and took a bite. It had somehow become better ... even good. Fred remembered he had had something that tasted like that before. It tasted a little like bread and wine!
In Nehemiah 5, people had it rough. Food was scarce. People were mortgaging their land to buy food and their leaders and powerful businessmen were loaning money at interest. Nehemiah was angry! He said, "You are charging your own people interest!? (Nehemiah 5:7)." "What you are doing is not right! (Nehemiah 5:9)." What has happened in this story that brings the Jews to this place of economic oppression?
First, people (Christian people, Jewish people) forget who they are and who they are called to be. They have become businessmen, people-managers and leaders that have convinced themselves they are making hard, but necessary decisions. They are like the restaurant owner who thinks his business is all about the bottom line. The "bottom line" says to fill every seat with paying customers. But what would Jesus do (the same thing I asked seniors at graduation)? Micah 6:8 says, "Do what is right" and the Hebrew words are all about being just to other people. Nehemiah says, "What you are doing is not right!" They/we are to be blessings to others (God tells Abraham, "to all the nations").
Second, people in leadership sometimes forget others, especially those in great need. It is easy, when caught up in "important" matters, to forget those people who have nothing. We are busy ... I think too busy ... to remember God-things. Did you know Jesus talked about the poor, the hurting, the sick, the widows and the oppressed, far more than He talked about doctrine, judgement and the end times. Yet we focus and dwell on the nuances of "The Revelation." We found a compelling video that caught our attention and entertained us. We heard a speaker that pushed our conspiracy buttons, and now we are looking for more of the same stuff. And Jesus says, "Who are you, when you forget the poor, the ones in prison and those in need?" Nehemiah, in pointing out the plight of the poor, changed lots of lives. Every one of those "changed" people were able to become a living stone that shouted, "God did something good here!" Nehemiah was a blessing to those people who could not defend themselves from their own authorities.
Finally, we forget that the oppressors are part of those in need. It isn't just about the poor, though they are important to God. Jesus "preaches" to leaders, those in authority and those with power, so they can change. Jesus goes to the house of Zacchaeus and leads his to reconsider his life. The people have it exactly right calling Zacchaeus a "great sinner." He was good at cheating people and taking money from those who had nothing. The restaurant owner was good at moving people along for profit. Zacchaeus is changed by Jesus' visit, and he makes recompense for his past behavior. Jesus says, "salvation has come to this house today (Luke 19:9)!"
We are too busy, I think. The urgent and the exciting "fodder" of life has replaced the meat of life. We run, and we get worn out. We walk and walk, and become faint. We process "customers" that we encounter, and we fail to relate to them! We say, "Move along ... I am busy with important stuff!" Look closer ... relate ... sit down and have supper with them. For, when we give them the cold glass of water or refreshing relationship and the sacrifice of our precious time, we might find that the supper (and the fellowship) is transformed into something holy and good ... bread and wine.
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