Commentary on "Priests and Levites"

STEVE PITCHER

 

Day 5: Wednesday, November 18, 2009

 

Today’s lesson is titled The Tithing Plan and is a continuation of the study from yesterday. Rather than repeat so much of what was mentioned in the commentary for Tuesday, today we will look at the second question that is asked in this lesson.

The lesson author asks, “Read Numbers 18:32. What point should be taken away from that regarding the sacredness of their calling?” Following the blanks where the student is to write his answer, the author provides the following in answer to this question:

In this divine plan, everyone had their role, everyone had something to do. The priests and the Levites had their sacred duties to carry out regarding the service and ministry in the sanctuary, while the people had theirs in regard to the paying of a faithful tithe.

This idea that “everyone had their role” and that those roles could be understood as ministering in the sanctuary service or paying a “faithful tithe” ignores the New Testament teaching on the members of the body of Christ and the variety of gifts given by the Holy Spirit. Each Christian has a gift, given by God the Holy Spirit for the purpose of building up the Church.

In the Church, it is not the people’s responsibility to pay a faithful tithe. Although financial support of those in full-time ministry is included, it is each member’s responsibility to use the gifts they have been given to build up the Church, to bring the good news of the Gospel to those in darkness and make known to the world the mystery that was hidden with Christ in God from ages past and newly revealed by the apostles and disciples following Pentecost. (See, 1 Cor. 6:2-9, Eph. 3:8-10 and Col. 1:25-28 for passages regarding the proclamation of this mystery.)

Since the revelation of the Church in the book of Acts, there are no longer those who officiate and those who support. Of course, there are specific offices within the Church and we are told to support those in full-time ministry. Yet Christianity is not a spectator sport. Every member is active, has been called to participate, and regardless of worldly handicaps, each one is fully empowered by the Holy Spirit to accomplish those works which God has created for us to do (Ephesians 1:10).

Let us not be bound or limited by such a practice as tithing. Christians are called to much more than one tenth. We are called to give 100% for the cause of Christ. Are you ready to lose your life, so that you can find it? (See Matthew 10:39 and 16:25.)

 

Summary

1. Rather than repeat much of what was covered yesterday, we take a look at one of the questions in today’s lesson.
2. Christianity is not a spectator sport. Every believer, regardless of worldly handicaps, has been empowered by the Holy Spirit to participate in the work of bringing lost souls to Christ.
3. Christians are called to give 100% to the cause of Christ. A tithe is a very limited view of what Christians have been called to give.
4. Are you ready to lose your life so that you may find it? (Mt. 10:39 and 16:25.)

 

GO TO DAY 6

 

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