Nehemiah 5:14 Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year to the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes the king, twelve years, neither I nor my brothers ate the food allowance of the governor. The former governors who were before me laid heavy burdens on the people and took from them for their daily ration forty shekels of silver. Even their servants lorded it over the people. But I did not do so, because of the fear of God. I also persevered in the work on this wall, and we acquired no land, and all my servants were gathered there for the work. Moreover, there were at my table 150 men, Jews and officials, besides those who came to us from the nations that were around us. Now what was prepared at my expense for each day was one ox and six choice sheep and birds, and every ten days all kinds of wine in abundance. Yet for all this I did not demand the food allowance of the governor, because the service was too heavy on this people. Remember for my good, O my God, all that I have done for this people.
For 12 years Nehemiah remained faithful in his generosity. He did not take the normal allowance of the governor. He did this because he wanted to do the work God has put before him in such a way that honored God. He did not want in any way to because of hardship beyond that of rebuilding Jerusalem.
Each day we are given the choice to live in such a way that honors and glorifies Jesus Christ. We are given the choice to walk humbly before our God. We are given the choice to seek Him through His word. We are given the choice to desire to do His perfect will for our life. We are given choice to be generous for His honor. We are given choice to love the unloved. We are given choice to forgive. We are given choice to follow and obey. We are given choice to be courageous in our walk with Him. We are given choice to reflect the light of Jesus Christ in a fallen world. We are given choice on how we spend our time and what we think about. Each day we choose to either draw nearer to Jesus Christ or slide away from Him.
Nehemiah did not hold fast to His commitment by being complacent and neglectful in His walk with God. His walk with God was first, His trust in God was true, and His love for God was deep. His eyes were securely fixed on doing that which God had given Him to do and to do it in such a way that God was honored and glorified.
