DOES IT PAY TO SERVE THE LORD?
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But unto the tribe of Levi Moses gave not any inheritance: the Lord God of Israel was their inheritance, as he said unto them.
The question many ask is, Does it pay to serve God?
Peter asked the question to Christ about pay · salary · wages · earnings for faithfully following Him.
Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?
The question is not an evil question, for we should ask every solicitor what the earnings or rewards is.
Sin tries to tell us that it will bring great wage when it actually brings great punishment · penalty.
So ask the question.
The answer is no one pays as well as God.
Our text is an illustration of God taking care of those who serve him.
FIRST—THE CLAN
“The tribe of Levi.”
This tribe was a special tribe in Israel.
From this tribe came the priests and all the helpers in the Tabernacle and the Temple.
This tribe would replace the firstborn of all the Israelites.
As well as take care of the services of the Tabernacle and the Temple.
And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine;
They had great spiritual privilege in their position.
But it required a life time of dedication.
The Levites could never be anything but God’s servants.
SECOND—THE COMPENSATION
Compensation - something, typically money, awarded to someone as a recompense for loss, injury, or suffering:
“Moses gave not any inheritance; the LORD God of Israel was their inheritance”
The compensation was twofold.
• The restrictive part of the compensation.
“Not any inheritance.”
While they had great spiritual privileges, their compensation was restricted.
They would receive no inheritance in the land of Canaan.
You do not read of any tribal allotment being given them as was given to the other tribes.
This part is the hard part for those serving the Lord.
If you are called to serve Him, their are privileges, but their are also the restrictions.
Ministers and missionaries may never be millionaires in this life.
Devoting your life to service for Him may leave you without much material possessions that others have.
Spiritual privilege is nice to have, but it comes at a high price.
Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,
• The rewarding part of the compensation.
“The LORD God of Israel was their inheritance.”
To the truly dedicated, this is a great blessing; but to the carnal it is a disappointing compensation.
If you would serve the Lord, you must by faith let Him take care of your rewards.
You do not bargain with Him about your pay.
You should be primarily interested in your duties.
Trust Him.
He will reward you with sufficient blessings which will last eternally.
THIRD—THE CONFIRMATION
“As he said unto them.”
The Word of God confirms the compensation in this call to service.
Those called to serve have many promises in the Scriptures about God taking care of them.
However, if the material compensations (“inheritance”) is lacking, some feel God has forsaken them.
But His Word says otherwise:
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
The Levites never went begging.
And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
