Tuesday - Is It Legal or Is It Right?
Nehemiah 5:6–7 – “And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words. 7 Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them.”
The wealthy were loaning to the poor, then taking their land, their homes, even their children when the debt couldn't be paid. And here's the unsettling part — it wasn't necessarily illegal. By Persian law, they had every right.
But Nehemiah wasn't satisfied with "legal." He called it usury against "his brother" (v. 7). These weren't strangers. They were family being treated like strangers.
We do the same thing when we ask, "Can I get away with this?" instead of "Is this right?" You can be technically right and still be spiritually wrong. You can win the argument and still wound the family.
Reflect: Is there something you've justified because it was allowed, even though you knew it wasn't loving?
The wealthy were loaning to the poor, then taking their land, their homes, even their children when the debt couldn't be paid. And here's the unsettling part — it wasn't necessarily illegal. By Persian law, they had every right.
But Nehemiah wasn't satisfied with "legal." He called it usury against "his brother" (v. 7). These weren't strangers. They were family being treated like strangers.
We do the same thing when we ask, "Can I get away with this?" instead of "Is this right?" You can be technically right and still be spiritually wrong. You can win the argument and still wound the family.
Reflect: Is there something you've justified because it was allowed, even though you knew it wasn't loving?
Recent
Archive
2026
January
Thursday - Watch and Stay ReadyFriday - Home with the KingTuesday - The Bible is God's Love Letter To UsWednesday - Two are better than oneThursday - All ScriptureFriday - Prayer is EssentialMonday - This Is RightTuesday - Honor Your Father and MotherWednesday - Teach Them DiligentlyThursday - Provoke Not Your Children to WrathFriday - A Legacy of FaithMonday - Enlisting in God's ArmyTuesday - Be Strong in the LordWednesday - Recognizing the Real EnemyThursday - Stand FirmFriday - Soldier of the CrossMonday - Truth Holds Everything TogetherTuesday - Guard Your HeartWednesday - Standing Firm with PeaceThursday - Shielded by FaithFriday - Protect Your Mind and Fight Back with the Word
February
Monday - Prayer Isn’t OptionalTuesday - Praying AlwaysWednesday - Pray SpecificallyThursday - Power of PrayerFriday - Don’t Quit PrayingMonday - Preserved by GodTuesday - My Will vs. Thy WillWednesday - Our Salvation From SinMonday - Ordinary DaysTuesday - A Comfortable Man Who Still CaredWednesday - When The News Breaks YouThursday - From Tears to PrayerFriday - Before God Rebuilds the WallMonday - Prayer Requires PatienceTuesday - Prayer Begins With RepentanceWednesday - Prayer Stands on ScriptureThursday - Prayer Multiplies and SpreadsFriday - From Talking About Prayer to Actually Praying
March
Monday - When God Is Working and You Can't See ItTuesday - God Moves In His TimeWednesday - When The Door Opens Step ThroughThursday - Asking BoldlyFriday - Recognizing God's HandMonday - God is the SourceTuesday - God's Word Nourishes Spiritual GrowthWednesday - Accepted in ChristThursday - The Quiet ChaptersFriday - OppositionMonday - Facing Honest RealityTuesday - The Power of ParticipationWednesday - Recognizing God’s HandThursday - Courage in the Face of OppositionFriday - Restored to BuildMonday - The Power of CommunityTuesday - Your Unique Contribution MattersWednesday - Unity in DiversityThursday - Finding Your Place on the WallFriday - Vision Requires ActionMonday - Is it I?Tuesday - Nothing Is Hidden From Jesus
April
Wednesday - The Danger of Slow DriftThursday - You Have a ChoiceFriday - Choose the CrossMonday - The Weight of SinTuesday - The Cost of SinWednesday - The Depth of God’s LoveThursday - The Victory of the ResurrectionFriday - Your Response to the CrossMonday - A Man After God’s HeartTuesday - The One Nobody ConsideredWednesday - The Lord Was With HimThursday - Faithful Under AuthorityFriday - When Worship Changes the AtmosphereMonday - An "Other Side" MentalityTuesday - Reactions to the StormWednesday - Faith Over FearThursday - Confidence in His Care
May
Friday - No One Ever Cared for Me Like JesusMonday - When You Start Building, They Show UpTuesday - The Enemy Sends Words FirstWednesday - He Always Attacks Who You Are FirstThursday - Don’t Go to the Comments, Go to GodFriday - Pray—Then Get Back to the WallMonday - The Foundation Comes FirstTuesday - Shaped By the WordWednesday - Centered Around GodThursday - The Fruit Is a GiftFriday - Arrows with PurposeMonday - I am lovedTuesday - I Am AcceptedWednesday - I Am ValuableThursday - I Am ForgivenFriday - I Am CapableMonday - The Middle Is the Hardest PartTuesday - When the Work Wears You DownWednesday - When the Enemy Gets LoudThursday - Remember the LordFriday - Refuse to Quit
Categories
no categories
No Comments