Is God Enough

"Then the Lord said to Aaron, 'You shall have no inheritance in their land nor own any portion among them; I am your portion and your inheritance among the sons of Israel.'" -Numbers 18.20

God is talking about how He is going to provide for the priests. He lays out how they will get food and be taken care of through the various offerings the people bring to sacrifice to God. Then at the end God reminds Aaron that the priests are not to have any inheritance of the land. They will not own any, but instead God will be their inheritance.

As I read that verse I was reminded of a blog post I read a few years back while I was in full time ministry. It asked the question, "Is Jesus enough?" I can't find the blog post, but it asked if Jesus is enough even if never build a large church, speak at a major conference, or have anyone read your blog or retweet your tweets. Is Jesus enough if He is all you ever get?

The Levites would have no land, no wealth, but they would have God. They would have a deep and intimate relationship with Him, and have Him provide for all of their needs.

Men, what would you choose if I gave you the option of a billion dollars or a deeper relationship with God than anyone has ever had? What would you pick between leading a church of 1,000 lukewarm Christians who simply showed up on Sunday morning, or witnessing in obscurity never receiving any recognition at all? It's easy to pick the second option in hypothetically, but what how many times have we faced that real choice and turned God down? How often have we chosen a secure career over the risk that God has called us to? How often have we picked prestige over humble service? How often have we told God, "You aren't enough"?

May we learn to be satisfied with God. May we come to see that relationship with Him as the most valuable possession we could ever have. May we come to value the chance to worship Him more than any accolade from others. May God be enough.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Guard the Holy

"But bring with you also your brothers, the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father, that they may be joined with you and serve you, while you and your sons with you are before the tent of the testimony. And they shall thus attend to your obligation and the obligation of all the tent, but they shall not come near to the furnishings of the sanctuary and the altar, or both they and you will die." -Numbers 18.2-3

God is giving Aaron instructions to bring the Levites to help with the ministry of the tabernacle, but they are given instructions not to go near the holy items. Aaron and the priests are to make sure they don't because if they do then both parties will die. There must be respect for the holy items of God, and if they don't death is the result.

Men, God has given us a responsibility to guard what is holy. Today obviously the standards are slightly different, God doesn't strike people dead for doing near something holy, but we still must guard it. We must teach our children to respect the Bible, the Church, and prayer.

We are entrusted with holy things from God, and we need to teach others to respect them.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor