The Desire for Prestige

"When these went into Micah’s house and took the graven image, the ephod and household idols and the molten image, the priest said to them, 'What are you doing?' They said to him, 'Be silent, put your hand over your mouth and come with us, and be to us a father and a priest. Is it better for you to be a priest to the house of one man, or to be priest to a tribe and a family in Israel?' The priest’s heart was glad, and he took the ephod and household idols and the graven image and went among the people." -Judges 18.18-20

The Danites are seeking an inheritance of land and so they send five men out to find a place. These men come to the house of Micah and enquirer of the Levite serving as his priest if God is with them, when he gives them a blessing they move on. After finding a place that will suit the needs of the tribe they return and prepare the men of war for battle. As they march to take the piece of ground that they have decided on they stop at the house of Micah and take the idols he has made. When the Levite priest tries to stop them they offer him the position of priest of their entire tribe. His heart is glad because this means a name for himself, and so he takes the objects of worship Micah has made and goes with the Danites.

The Levite is simply seeking his own prestige and advancement. He agrees to serve as Micah's priest for the payment, and now he takes the position offered to him by the Danites because it's a nice promotion. He is seeking to advance himself, not God, and his desire for prestige causes a tribe to sin by idolatry.

Men, do you desire to advance yourself? Are you willing to do whatever you have to in order to get that next promotion? Are you seeking to build a name and reputation for yourself? What is the cost? What does your career advancement mean to your family? What does it mean to your spiritual life? What does it mean to your health?

There is nothing wrong with doing well in your career. There is nothing wrong with working hard and advancing because of hard, honest work. But when the desire for the promotion becomes what you live for, and it takes away from the things that are really important, you have missed the point. You may be making sacrifices that you can't afford to make, and the end result is not worth what it will cost you to get there.

The Levite had the responsibility to lead the people to God, but for comfortable compensation he agrees to serve as a families personal priest. That first compromise makes the next one that much easier. Since he is already living for himself, the opportunity to advance himself by becoming the priest of an idol for an entire tribe is an amazing opportunity and he jumps at it.

The desire for personal prestige will cost us what we can't afford to lose, but so many pay it without any hesitation.

Let us never live for our own advancement. Let us work hard, seeking to do our best and advance as we are able, but may we never compromise and sacrifice what we cannot afford to lose.

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

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor