Today’s Devotion
Topic: The Minister And The Offering
Text: Nehemiah 12: 44- 45
44 At that time men were appointed to be in charge of the storerooms for the contributions, first fruits and tithes. From the fields around the towns they were to bring into the storerooms the portions required by the Law for the priests and the Levites, for Judah was pleased with the ministering priests and Levites. 45 They performed the service of their God and the service of purification, as did also the musicians and gatekeepers, according to the commands of David and his son Solomon. Amen
After rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, Nehemiah painstakingly set the priest and Levites to duty just as King David had instituted. Some of the Levites were singers, instrumentalists, scribes (administrators) and gate keepers (ushers). Others included those in charge of store room (welfare) and those in charge of treasury (accounts).
Now, from the fields around the towns, the people of Israel were expected to bring into the storerooms the portions required by the Law for the priests and the Levites, just as we are encouraged to bring our tithes, pledges, dues and offerings to sustain ministers and also help in church administration and growth.
The very wonderful thing is that the people of Judah gave very generously and willingly because they were pleased with the ministering priests and Levites. They actually performed the service of their God and the service of purification with dedication, diligence and joy as did also the musicians and gatekeepers, according to the commands of David and his son Solomon.
The same can be the case in our churches and fellowships if Ministers and Levites will dedicate themselves diligently to both the service of the Lord and to purity. There has been too much emphasis on the need to honour God with our substance, and that is true. Giving to God is mandatory and fundamental to our Christian faith.
However, also needing emphasis is how Ministers and Levites offer themselves to the service of God and to purity. They must “…be above reproach, faithful to their spouse, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.” (1 Timothy 3: 2- 3)
The people are watching us! They can’t support the choir to get new robes if all they see is fornication and jealousy. They are reluctant to give to God just to feed the flamboyance of a Pastor. Some still grumble at the altar because they see that righteousness has been compromised for perversion.
They watch instrumentalists display all forms of ungodliness right in the presence of the Lord, by walking out of the service till it is time to play their instruments. They would rather chat outside the chapel about the ladies they admire, or take a tot of gin while the service goes on than yield to the presence of God.
Dear Ministers and church workers, let us first offer ourselves to the service of God and to purity, and make it easier for the congregation to honour God without reservations. He deserves the best; both clergy and lay must be careful to honour Him as such.
Begin to pray now for your church. Pray for all Ministers as well that grace will help them live above reproach. Pray for yourself too that you honour God both with your life and substance, knowing that your priority covenant is with God and not man. God loves every cheerful giver.
The Lord is coming again, His reward with him to give to all according to their works: https://youtu.be/Q8eGxthVdxE
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