Ezra 6:8
Moreover I make a decree what ye shall do to the elders of these Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king’s goods, even of the tribute beyond the river, forthwith expenses be given unto these men, that they be not hindered.
Darius confirmed the rebuilding of the house of God and ordered that its expenses be paid promptly from the king's goods, even from the tribute collected beyond or west of the Euphrates, to the elders of the Jews and the builders so that they would not be hindered. That practical support helped prepare the way for the completion of the temple. The order was the second command or decree for building after the proclamation of Cyrus, forming part of one continuing decree to restore Jerusalem in which Cyrus began the work, Darius carried it forward, and Artaxerxes completed it. In this history Cyrus acted as God's agent to grant the Jewish people liberty and to furnish the facilities needed for rebuilding, and Darius as his successor carried on the work begun by setting aside the prohibition of the usurper so that the building costs were given from royal resources. This continuing decree is dated to 457 B.C. and provides the starting point for the seventy weeks of Daniel's prophecy.
The Lord has resources and His hand is on the machinery for His work, and He still moves upon the hearts of kings and rulers and upon the world in behalf of His people to do what He wills for His cause. He has placed His goods in the hands of unbelievers to be used for the work that must be done for a fallen world. As long as believers are in this world and the Spirit of God is striving with the world and the door of mercy is not closed, they are to both give and receive favors. They are to give the world the light of truth as presented in the Scriptures while receiving the help, gifts, means, and opened avenues for truth that God moves worldly men to provide for the advancement of His cause. Such gifts and opened avenues are not to be refused even when those through whom they come have no sympathy with the work and no faith in Christ and no practice of His words.
Those interested in the work, including those deeply interested in the religious liberty question, must not cut off favors or withdraw from the help God has moved men to give for the advancement of His cause. They must not refuse such gifts and avenues, close avenues, bind up means God would have set free, or build a wall of separation by their own ideas. They must not come into conflict with authorities and powers so as to bring the time of trouble before the time.