Missions Update  -

OK, so I randomly opened the Bible and read this...

About Levi he said: "Your Thummim and Urim belong to the man you favored. You tested him at Massah; you contended with him at the waters of Meribah.
9 He said of his father and mother, 'I have no regard for them.' He did not recognize his brothers or acknowledge his own children, but he watched over your word and guarded your covenant.
10 He teaches your precepts to Jacob and your law to Israel. He offers incense before you and whole burnt offerings on your altar.
11 Bless all his skills, O LORD, and be pleased with the work of his hands. Smite the loins of those who rise up against him; strike his foes till they rise no more."

This is Moses' blessings over the tribe of Levi. The tribe of Levi was the tribe of PRIESTS for the Jewish nation...

the foreshadowing of the Pastors of today.

There was a time that I thought maybe Pastor's should not tithe, because Israelites gave 10 percent of their goods to the "church"...i.e. the Lord's house...or the tribe of Levi. This tribe didn't own land...they lived among the other tribes and in "house's of the Lord" - and would spend their time doing what Pastors do today - preaching the Word, copying it for the future generations and doing the sacrifices required of those days (now, Jesus is our perfect sacrifice). But later I read in the Bible that the Levities themselves gave a tithe of what they got from the people, and that settled the question for me.

Have you ever wondered...why Pastor's homes...or families seem to suffer because of the ministry of the Word?

I always wondered, why carpenter's homes are never finished, why accountants sometimes have bad credit reports, and Pastor's family are so messed up.

Why are pastor's kids problems? Why is it that most of the Pastors that I know have had a divorce, or affair, or separation?

Even some, like Oral Roberts, have one of their children commit suicide.

We could say that it is the Devil...that he wants to destroy pastor's families so that God can't get the Glory. And I am sure Satan has a part in it all.

But, what about this BLESSING FROM MOSES????

Of course, Paul balances this out in the New Testament, saying that an Elder or leader or pastor in a church MUST HAVE HIS FAMILY IN ORDER, because how can one have a Church in order and NOT his own family? That does beg more questions...

But so often, and we've all heard it said, as it is the commandment of God - 1. Love God first. 2. Then family, or your neighbor...although you can't love neighbor unless you have the love of God in you first...so it does make sense. But, if we have to choose...between family or God...then, it's God! That's why the decision to be a Christian in the Muslim world is so hard, because they have to leave their families, and even sometimes their family would KILL them, if they found out they were Christians, etc.

But how many women and children would love to have their husbands/fathers SOLD OUT for Christ? How many church members demand or hope that their Pastors are SOLD OUT for the cause of Christ? There is a PASSION for GOD's WORD that consumes them! As in Moses' blessing...we sometimes "watch over the Word" to the "lack of watching over our families".

One thing I realized about life...such as with the Scientific Law (I believe Newtonian) that "no two objects can occupy the same space", when we are passionate about one thing, we lose passion for the other. It our love for ministry...and sometimes the more "thrilling it is" the more we have a passion for it...if it consumes us...we lose passion for everything else, be it entertainment, common chores, or family. I know balance is a beautiful thing, but Jesus seemed to be a little out of balance and extreme about the things of God...and well, He CHANGED THE WORLD MORE THAN ANYONE EVER HAS! His love for the Father consumed him, more than food, friends, or family. "Who is my mother and brother, he who does the will of the Father" Jesus said. (when His family came to see Him and people told Him to go out to them)

So I ask you...is it all that bad when we see the Pastor's families acting anything but Christian? It is all that bad to see a Pastor love the Word of God and ministry more than meeting his wives needs?

You know they say, "those who can't do, TEACH"! Is it that a Pastor teaches so much of the Word of God that it's too hard for him to do, or he doesn't have the time to practice it in his family life? Are Pastor's too much of teachers and not doers? As Jesus said over and over to the teachers of His day..."you teach but won't lift a hand to help another in their burden". Or was Jesus most angry with those Levities that didn't DO the Word, but only taught it?

Am I talking about two different things? Pastors who love the Word do all they can to live by it and still many have broken families. Is it because each person can make their own decision, be it; wife or children of the pastor? And the world is very tempting to all people!

Still I wonder...how much of the Moses' Blessing...that Levi (the order of the priesthood, professionally) will disregard their mother, fathers, and children...and be consumed with God's Word and duties...is the reason for some of the bad family relationships to often in Pastor's homes these days?

What say you?