Nehemiah was a bold man. He confronted the “Nobles and Officials” for financially abusing people with low incomes in times of famine. They used their resources to further their advantage over people experiencing poverty rather than to feed and assist the poor. Nehemiah called a national assembly, and in the presence of everyone, he specifically addressed the “rich” for abusing their privilege at the expense of the poor. Verses 8 & 9 of chapter five say, “They were silent and could not find a word to say. So, I said, “The thing you are doing is not good. Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God?”
Whenever walking in, “the fear of the Lord” was used; it referred to obeying God’s Word. Without God’s word, we have no message, mission, ministry, methods, ministries, or morals to test our life choices. The absolute truth of God’s Word always confronts us regarding our life choices. It convinces, convicts, corrects, cleanses, and changes us if we “walk in the fear of the Lord.”
Although we see how Jesus always loved sinners, he always called sin “sin.” When the adulterous woman was publicly exposed to her sin, Jesus shamed her accusers into dropping their stones and walking away. But his words to her were, “Go and SIN no more.” He didn’t accept her lifestyle; he lovingly confronted her with the reality of SIN.
When we relate to those who do not walk “in fear of the Lord,” we must also be careful about throwing stones, yet we must also be firm in not approving sinful behavior. Love and Mercy are incomplete unless we do as Jesus and Nehemiah did. We must call it “sin.” In some respects, we have winked, giggled, made alibis, or ignored sin all too long. A true friend says quietly but firmly, “What you’re doing, friend, is sin. It is harmful to you and others. It is destructive to God’s dream for you.”