1
00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:08,980
Day 34, or February 3. Support those in ministry. Our thoughts today are rooted in Leviticus

2
00:00:08,980 --> 00:00:15,580
chapter 7, verse 35. This was the portion of the food offerings presented to the Lord

3
00:00:15,580 --> 00:00:21,240
that was allotted to Aaron and his sons on the day they were presented to serve the Lord

4
00:00:21,240 --> 00:00:23,480
as priests.

5
00:00:23,480 --> 00:00:29,240
Now the big picture surrounding this verse. Details were given to God's people of how

6
00:00:29,240 --> 00:00:34,760
the priests were to offer the five sacrifices that are described in the early chapters of

7
00:00:34,760 --> 00:00:42,120
Leviticus. In a society where offering sacrifices to gods was a regular event, it was vital

8
00:00:42,120 --> 00:00:50,160
that offerings to the living God must be distinctive and done correctly and with reverence. As

9
00:00:50,160 --> 00:00:55,520
the priests were fully employed, with their tasks at the tabernacle, they were allowed

10
00:00:55,520 --> 00:01:01,960
to consume part of each sacrifice that was offered. In this way they were able to concentrate

11
00:01:01,960 --> 00:01:08,040
on their primary call from God, and didn't need to raise money to meet their daily living

12
00:01:08,040 --> 00:01:14,720
expenses. This revealed a God who thinks of everything. To make sure that the priests

13
00:01:14,720 --> 00:01:21,920
were supported, God built it into the whole structure of sacrificing.

14
00:01:21,920 --> 00:01:28,640
And finally our action step for today. I remember gently correcting a lady who thought that

15
00:01:28,640 --> 00:01:33,720
church ministers stayed behind every Sunday evening to share out the collections from

16
00:01:33,720 --> 00:01:39,320
the services. She thought it was on the basis of a pound for you and a pound for me when

17
00:01:39,320 --> 00:01:46,320
more than one minister was involved, otherwise a lone minister would get it all. It's staggering

18
00:01:46,320 --> 00:01:51,680
what some people think, and she was a local businesswoman, so it surprised me that she

19
00:01:51,680 --> 00:01:57,460
didn't know better. We're reminded here that it was everyone's responsibility to

20
00:01:57,460 --> 00:02:04,600
financially support the priests, who were duly given a percentage of the offering. Sadly,

21
00:02:04,600 --> 00:02:10,200
there are still folk who believe that, in quotes, full-time Christian workers should

22
00:02:10,200 --> 00:02:17,160
be paid a pittance to confirm their call. I know a church that determined its members'

23
00:02:17,160 --> 00:02:24,320
incomes by secret ballot and then paid its ministers the average. Does this reflect poorly

24
00:02:24,320 --> 00:02:47,760
with the way you pay yours? Is it time to think about change?