THE CONTRIBUTION AND ALLEGIANCE OF THE LORD

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In Ezekiel 20, , the Lord is speaking to the people of Israel through the prophet. He is talking about how the people would serve Him, and He shall require holy sacrifices and the finest gifts. The Lord also talked about a renewal of the covenant wherein all His promises would be reinstated.

40 People of Israel, you will all serve me,’ announces the Lord and King. ‘You will serve me on my high and holy mountain in Jerusalem. There I will accept you. I will require your offerings and your finest gifts. I want you to bring them along with all your other holy sacrifices. 41 I will bring you back from the nations. I will gather you together from the countries where you have been scattered. Then I will accept you as if you were sweet-smelling incense. I will show that I am holy among you. The nations will see it. 42 I will bring you into the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord. Long ago I raised my hand and made a promise. I promised to give that land to your people of long ago. 43 There you will remember your conduct. You will think about everything you did that made you “unclean.” And you will hate yourselves because of all the evil things you have done. 44 People of Israel, I will deal with you for the honor of my name. I will not deal with you based on your evil conduct and sinful practices. Then you will know that I am the Lord,’ announces the Lord and King.” ’ ” (Ezekiel 20:40-44)

 

Verse 32-44 is a form of disputation speech. The form used here is to make the speech a vehicle for the proclamation of salvation. However, despite the positive message of the proclamation, there is an interwoven announcement of partial judgment.

 

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Have you ever believed and desired for a reaping without actually sowing anything?

COMMITMENTS OF A BELIEVER

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The importance of the temple was shown in how the construction of the temple was the first order of business for the returning exiles. Their slowness in building it became a burden for the minor prophet Haggai. Continued provision for the temple even concerned Nehemiah.

Nehemiah was a civil rule. The expectation was he couldn’t care less about the temple. He was largely concerned about rebuilding the city walls. However, Nehemiah 10 showed us his commitment to the temple by binding people to being a God-fearing, cohesive, and conscious nation. ]

 

According to Howard F. Vos says, “The temple … provided the religious and social cement to bind members of the community to each other, and preeminently to God and his service.”72 Unity in the country is difficult to maintain. At the end of the book, and even in the book of Malachi, we find the later generations of Jews neglecting their tithes and offerings. They neglected the ministry of the Lord.

 

Under Nehemiah’s leadership, he made sure the people upheld their duties to the Temple. Do not pass the buck to the next person. You are a believer, and being so, you have responsibility to obey the Lord and to take care of God’s ministry in the capacity God has given you. Do not be apathetic or complacent, thinking, “Someone richer would do that.” Operate on the courts of advancing God’s Kingdom. Don’t just watch around, as you mistake yourself as doing action. You just might regret your non-participation on judgment day. This “lifestyle of stewardship,” is a way of being, in which you have first given yourselves to the Lord and then regularly give ourselves to others in his name (cf. 2 Cor. 8:5).

 

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HOW DOES A LIFESTYLE OF STEWARDSHIP LOOK LIKE?

 

Under the Law

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More often than not, when pastors preach about money people get turned off. They commonly think the pastors just want their money, instead of understanding that the pastors are only preaching the Word and ushering the church of God into a space wherein they can be blessed. If they do not know about the biblical commands about giving and the promises of God that are attached to it, then how can people obey the Word?

Christians would argue is the topic of money about law or grace. Well, it’s always about grace. Other than food and money, people usually don’t have an issue with the Old Testament. For example, people would agree that incest — a Leviticus 12 command — is wrong, and people would agree. But it’s the Law. Are these people going to argue that they should not be placed under Law by teaching this command?

 

Even in the most ancient of the Old Testament commands, your forgiveness has never been found in keeping the commands. Instead, your forgiveness was found in putting your faith on God’s faithfulness. People sacrificed the lamb, and they were forgiven, because they obeyed God’s command to do so. There is a sacrifice because God demanded a sacrifice. It was not the priest’s idea.

The command was never intended to be a means for the forgiveness of sins. The commands were intended to show how forgiven people are to live. The Law is not a means to get into heaven. Instead, the Law is about how God intends us to live to experience the best kind of living.

Ask yourselves about core belief questions. Are you willing to trust God with your eternal soul? If yes, then what is it about money that you don’t trust with Him? If you are able to trust God with something as big as your eternal destination, how come there is still a tendency to hoard money? Unless money seems more important to you than your eternity — that’s dangerous and short-sighted.

God instituted a divine order for handling money. There is a divine order of giving and a divine order of living. How does God intend to keep believers the most blessed group of people in the world? It’s by instituting a divine order of giving and living. Look at the Jews. They make up less than 1% of the world’s population, but they have 30% of the world’s wealth. Is it because of them, or is it because of the covenant God had with their ancestors?

 

 

 

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Appointing with Integrity

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God appoints people with integrity. When you are doubting your church for using the money you donate wisely, you must assume they are people of integrity who are accountable before the Lord. Even when you have great doubt for human error and temptation, at the end of the day, these people are answerable to the Lord. Any corruption and misuse, they would have to account for on the Day of Judgment in front of the King of kings.

Come to think about it, it’s a dangerous journey for Ezra and the priests. Robbers can ambush them and kill them to get hold of this great treasure. Physically, they were carrying heavy loads. Like humans, they can also be tempted to pocket a few silver or gold. However, the Lord has blessed their journey. Passage below shows that the Lord kept them safe. Upon their arrival, there were more offerings made for the Lord in the form of livestock. Truly, we see abundance and prosperity left and right from different groups of people, as they are able to generously give to the work of the Lord.

 

31 On the 12th day of the first month we started out. We left the canal that flows toward Ahava. And we headed for Jerusalem. Our God helped us. He kept us safe from enemies and robbers along the way. 32 So we arrived in Jerusalem. There we rested for three days.

33 On the fourth day we weighed out the silver and gold. We also weighed out the sacred objects. We weighed everything in the house of our God. We handed all of it over to Meremoth the priest. He was the son of Uriah. Eleazar, Jozabad and Noadiah were with him. Eleazar was the son of Phinehas. Jozabad was the son of Jeshua. Noadiah was the son of Binnui. Jozabad and Noadiah were Levites. 34 Everything was listed by number and weight. And the total weight was recorded at that time.

35 Then the people sacrificed burnt offerings to the God of Israel. They had returned from Babylon. They offered 12 bulls for the whole nation of Israel. They offered 96 rams and 77 male lambs. All of that was a burnt offering to the Lord. They sacrificed 12 male goats as a sin offering. 36 They also handed over the king’s orders. They gave them to the royal officials and governors who ruled over the land west of the Euphrates River. Then those men helped the people. They also did many things for the house of God. (Ezra 8:31-36)

 

Ezra 8:31-36 shows us that Ezra and his group arrived safely in Jerusalem. Furthermore, Ezra 8:34 tells us that the books balanced when the silver, gold, vessels and offering were counted and weighed. The men chosen had faithfully fulfilled their task and proven themselves trustworthy in the mission given to them.

 

 

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Not OUR church or ministry, it is God’s

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It is not our church or ministry, it is God’s. The money in the church treasury does not belong to the pastor or the treasure. It does not belong to one person. It belongs to the movement of God. The resources of the church does not belong to the individuals by which they are assigned to. The pastor is God’s shepherd whom He uses to lead, feed, and guide the flock. The pastor does not own the church. Workers of the Lord need to recognize that everything they have to work with belongs to the Lord. Donations that are given are prompted by the Lord in order to fund His mission.

Ezra is basically saying to the priests, “Guard this stuff with your life until you weigh it in at Jerusalem.” The day of accountability would come when they arrived “at Jerusalem” and gave account “before the chief of the priests and the Levites, and chief of the fathers of Israel.” This is a reference to the leaders of the nation of Israel. The “chambers of the house of the Lord” were rooms around the edges of parts of the temple area used both for administration and storage and for the priests’ personal convenience. He was making sure the offering made it safely to where they were supposed to be.

 

 

 

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Have you ever felt that it is unfair for the offering to go the pastor’s livelihood? Why do you think you feel this way?

 

The Inventory of Gifts

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Why did Ezra order an inventory of gifts? Did it mean that he didn’t trust the men he selected? Why so many witnesses? Does he think he’ll rob them on the journey? His actions were a result of his integrity. He was protecting himself of any accusations of taking anything for personal gain; the same intention goes for those he had appointed.59 He wanted to make sure they were blameless before the people in handling the gifts to the temple.

 

Paul admonished leaders to be blameless (1 Tim. 3:2). The word “blameless” means nothing for the world to use to discredit the man of God. The man may know the heart of the person, but the enemy would always work to discredit leaders so that the Word of God would be deterred or that there would be discord in the Body of Christ. Ezra had the wisdom to do an inventory so that such accusations may be avoided.

The measures in the passage below represented grand amounts of silver and gold. A talent is approximately 75 pounds. Having said that, a silver bar would weigh 25 tons. The hundreds of talents of silver vessels, and hundred talents of gold weighed a little above three tons. The 20 basins of gold and two vessels of fine copper would be around 19-20 pounds. Such is quite a load to measure for 24 priests and for the Levites to carry. Most of them were probably transported using wagons (Num. 7:2-3).

 

26 I weighed out 24 tons of silver and gave it to those men. I weighed out almost four tons of silver things. I weighed out almost four tons of gold. 27 I weighed out 20 gold bowls. They weighed 19 pounds. I also weighed out two fine objects. The bronze they were made out of was highly polished. They were as priceless as gold. (Ezra 8:26-27)

The present day value of these gifts would be in the millions of dollars today. However, it was not just in the dollar equivalent that made them important and special. These vessels and offerings were given for the work of God. The Lord’s work is a priority. Pagans were moved by the Lord to provide for the temple of the Lord. God can use anyone to fund His work.

 

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In what ways can your leaders aspire to be blameless?

Set Apart

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Ezra was chosen to lead the people back to Jerusalem that they may prove that they were His people, and that His covenant will be upheld. Ezra spoke of the cleansing in the Lord, by setting apart both people and gifts as holy. The concept of setting apart is under appreciated in today’s society. People want to belong. They want to be accepted, or to go with the flow.

In the ancient Israel, when something is set apart, it is sacrificed. Today, people seldom want to give up anything for the sake of “self-love”. They want to put themselves first. There is little adherence to the concept of duty or stewardship, and it’s replaced with entitlement and looking out for number 1. Most of this is why people have a lot of trouble with bringing in their tithes and offering. They believe so much in the concept of comfort and being served that it is beyond them to believe that the Lord would want them to sacrifice something before they can be blessed. A lot of Christians feel entitled to God’s blessing — because they feel it’s in the Bible — without sacrificing anything on their part. It’s like believing in the principle of reaping, while neglecting the principle of sowing.

 

 

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Have you ever believed and desired for a reaping without actually sowing anything?

Keep Them

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Bible commentator, Matthew Henry, noted on how Ezra took particular care “of the treasure which belonged to God’s sanctuary,” and that “Having committed the keeping of it to God, he committed the keeping of it to proper men, whose business it was to watch it, though without God they would have watched in vain. Note, our prayers must always be seconded with our endeavors; the care of Christ’s gospel, his church, and ordinances, must not be so left with him but that it must also be committed to faithful men.”

Ezra appointed the priests and Levites with the task of watching over the offerings. They said, they must watch over them and keep them so that they may not be lost, embezzled, nor mingled with other articles. Ezra made sure the gifts were kept together, kept by themselves, and kept safely till they were weighed in the temple in front of the elders. Like King Hezekiah, Ezra cared greatly about making sure the provision for the temple was protected. It was because he knew the Lord entrusted this to him that he was committed to making sure whatever was offered to the Lord was properly accounted for and distributed.

 

 

Experience the Power of Prophecy as a gift to open your mind to receive the Mind of Christ.

 

How does the Lord’s commands to priests/ministers to keep the offering sit with you? Why do you think this is your feeling about this?

The Joy in Giving

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A wide array of offerings were brought to the Lord at the chosen place of worship. The following shows the heart of the people to give. Each person did not just give the tithe or the offering, they brought in the tithe with different kinds of offerings. It shows a collective act of generosity.

 

  • The “burnt offerings” were fully burnt and offered to God.
  • The term “sacrifices” when used alongside burnt offerings, usually refers to offerings that were not totally burned. The fat was “burned as the Lord’s portion and the remaining parts [went] to the priests and the offerer” (Craigie).
  • Several other offerings are to be brought into the place of worship. “Tithes” consist of a tenth of produce of the land or livestock (see the discussion

on 14:22–29).

  • The “contribution” mentioned next seems to refer to “holy gifts given to priests.”
  • Then there were “vow offerings,” which are gifts given in fulfillment of vows made earlier.
  • Just as God freely showed his love toward the people, they in turn respond with “freewill offerings”—offerings given voluntarily.
  • Finally, they are to bring “the firstborn of your herd and of your flock” (see the discussion on 15:19–23)
  • An allowance was made to pay a ransom (usually a little higher than the cost) and redeem these animals (Exodus 13:11–16)

 

The Jewish culture was accustomed to bringing the offering to the altar. The priests mostly had something in their hand to waive or to heave, because the people brought in the offering. As a result of these acts of worship, a sweet aroma was sent up to the Lord. The offering was waved or heaved so that the Lord “noticed” them. It required an offering for God to show up. In our present day culture, it will require money for God’s presence to show up. Before you find that materialistic, let me explain. It is when the people sacrificed their money that they were able to chip away greed and the idolatry of money from their lives. It is when worshipers show that they can part with the little god of material wealth that God can show up in their midst to display His glory. Otherwise, it is all lip service. They say they worship God, but really, they are clinging to manna.

Giving can be done willingly and cheerfully, because they are aware in their hearts of who their Master is — and it is not money. The people’s security and future does not depend on manna. The verse said that there would be joy. The importance of joy is emphasized by the fact that it is referred twice more in this chapter, in connection with sacrifice and offerings (Deut. 12:12, 18).

 

 

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Joy in Offering

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If you read the passage below, you will see a command, a reminder to give, instructions, then promises of God’s presence and blessing-induced joy.

6 Take your burnt offerings and sacrifices to that place. Bring your special gifts and a tenth of everything you produce. Take with you what you have promised to give. Bring any other offerings you choose to give. And bring the male animals among your livestock that were born first to their mothers. 7 You and your families will eat at the place the Lord your God will choose. He will be with you there. You will find joy in everything you have done. That’s because he has blessed you. (Deuteronomy 12:6-7)

The people were commanded to bring offerings and a sacrifice to the place of worship. They were to bring special gifts on top of the tithe. They were also reminded to bring what they promised to give, any other offerings they chose to give. They were to eat at a designated place for the purpose of fellowship. It was going to be a celebration. Moses also declared that God will be with them there as they gather together with their family.

 

The people would find joy in everything they have done — which was to bring the tithe and the offerings. Imagine experiencing joy — not just happiness — from bringing an offering. The reason why there is joy is because the blessing came beforehand. How can the Israelites even give without receiving a blessing from the Lord prior? They have joy in giving, because they have already been recipients of blessings. If the people were able to give tremendously, then it is because they received abundantly. After all, the Israelites were not bringing in 100% of their produce. Hence, they were only giving a portion of what they received, and the amount of the offering is only a glimpse of the actual provision.

 

 

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The Lord is the Priest’s Inheritance

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If the Lord is the priest’s inheritance, when the priest is provided for, you certainly experience the Lord in your house. If the priest quits because he cannot support himself and his family as he serves in the ministry, then where does he take his inheritance, which is the Lord Himself, he takes the Lord elsewhere. The Lord makes another community His dwelling place. He will make the community that feels the need to support the His work His dwelling place.

The pattern has already been laid down in the book of Numbers. Material support for the priest should be generous. Sometimes congregations seem to think that the best way to keep their minister holy is to keep him poor! However, it does a disservice to God. God is the ultimate Boss of the minister. Does this mean God does not intend to compensate His workers handsomely? Is the CEO of the multinational company a better boss than God? If the CEOs of these multimillion dollar companies are able to bless their front- liners with a competitive salary, why do we frown upon pastors with nice cars and nice houses? Do you think God intends for them to be poor and miserable? By nature, God is good and abundant. What kind of boss do you think He’ll make to His ministers when they are working fulltime to carry out His work?

 

 

If the people did not faithfully tithe, the priests would certainly have found their means of support very limited. That was not God’s design for them, however. God wanted his servants to be more than adequately sustained, and as long as his people were faithfully honoring the Lord, they would also honor His servants and provide abundantly for their financial needs.

The abundance of the minister reflects the glory of God. If the pastors are poor, what does that say about God? If I were a new member of a church and I see my pastor struggling to make ends meet, would I believe him when he says, “God is good, give your tithe, and you will be blessed!” Of course not! I would think, if he who does the work of God directly is not even blessed, how would this God bless me, who is in the secular industry? God’s blessings on the elders and church leaders are a glimpse of the blessings that God would pour out on the people they are leading.

 

How can the senior pastor mentor others to be generous when he himself does not have the means to be generous? God is the priest’s portion, and because of that, they experience abundance and they are capable of extreme generosity.

 

 

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Have you ever felt that it is unfair for the offering to go the pastor’s livelihood? Why do you think you feel this way?

Priesthood and Ministry

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There are important indications that can be drawn from the instructions of God to this Old Testament people. First, under the New Covenant, just as under the Old, God desires to have individuals set apart to serve Him in full-time ministry. He calls men to teach His people His Word, and to shepherd His flock (1 Pt. 5:2). It has been this way since the beginning. It has always been normal practice for ministers of the gospel to be supported by those whom they minister to.

 

TAKE CARE OF THE PRIEST

Jesus was very specific about how judgment would come to the house of those who do not welcome and provide for the needs of the worker of God.

9 “Do not get any gold, silver or copper to take with you in your belts. 10 Do not take a bag for the journey. Do not take extra clothes or sandals or walking sticks. A worker should be given what he needs. 11 When you enter a town or village, look for someone who is willing to welcome you. Stay at their house until you leave. 12 As you enter the home, greet those who live there. 13 If that home welcomes you, give it your blessing of peace. If it does not, don’t bless it. 14 Some people may not welcome you or listen to your words. If they don’t, leave that home or town, and shake the dust off your feet. 15 What I’m about to tell you is true. On judgment day it will be easier for Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town. (Matthew 10:9-15, emphasis added).

Paul assumed the right of those who labor for the spiritual good of a community to receive material support in return (1 Cor. 9:4-12). The goal is that these ministers should have no material concerns, and to single-mindedly focus on the heavenly things for the sake of the congregation as a whole, instead of having to split their attention between earth and heaven.

The Lord appointed a blessing for the priest. You should make sure you gift what the priest deserves. A lot of people think being a pastor is not a “real” job, but if you look at what it entails in both the spiritual and natural realm, it is more than a full time job — it is a lifetime job.

14 Don’t take advantage of any hired worker who is poor and needy. That applies to your own people. It also applies to outsiders living in one of your towns. 15 Give them their pay every day. They are poor and are counting on it. If you don’t pay them, they might cry out to the Lord against you. Then you will be guilty of committing a sin. (Deuteronomy 24:14-15)

Make it your business to take care of the priest. Make sure he is happy with his calling. As people bless him willingly, and not forced, you are making sure the priest is happy with what God called him to do. Out of your heart, you can support the ministry of the Lord. When God blesses you a hundredfold for supporting His work, then you can give to the poor, to the needy, you can support your family, and you can experience the joy of the Lord’s abundance. But first things first. Take care of the House of the Lord first, so that He can dwell with you, and you can remain blessed.

 

 

Experience the Power of Prophecy as a gift to open your mind to receive the Mind of Christ.