Challenge to Leadership

I still do not understand the human heart and its quest to be better then the person next to you. To overtake any one in leadership. We all have this desire for some reason and I guess that is a good desire because it makes us continue to work hard to better our self. However when it is used like it is here, it seems as if it is an evil thing. Korah challenges Moses' leadership. Poor Moses, he seems to be a very humble leader and I think that is one of the reasons he continues to be challenged in his leadership roll. However, God makes it clear once more that Aaron isto be the priestly leader for the Tabernacle and Moses is still the one whom God will speak directly to.

I love the way God shows the Levites that Aaron is to be the leader of the priests. By the use of the staffs. He has everyone of the leaders write their name on their staffs and then guess whos staff buds and bears fruit? Aarons! Ouch, what a strike to their ego. But what a powerful gentle way to demonstrate to the people the power of the Lord.

Then we go into the tithing aspect of the passages we read today. This was a real good reading for me. Especially right now since we have had some extremely difficult times lately with money. Finally we are coming out of it a bit and I am feeling more convicted then ever to go back to tithing. God state several times here that a 10th of all the land (or of your income) is to be "Holy to the Lord". I think here it is stating that this tithe is a kinda rent in which Israel owes to God for the use of His land. And a portion of this tithes was to be used to maintain the Levites who worked for God.

It also talks about a 2nd tithe. A every third year tithe of a 10th to be stored for the poor. I guess that would be like our emergency needs offering our church takes once a month for those in dire need. I think those who tithed were keeping a divine commandment and expressed this confidence in Gods ability to provide and take care of them. There are so many ways to tithe to God. When we were not able to tithe due to not having any income, we tithed with our time and volunteering at our church. God appreciates it no matter how small or large as long as it is done not out of obligation, but out of love and trust that He will continue to provide for you.

Now that finances are back in order, my son will start having a small allowance of $5.00 a week. However, when he gets his money weekly he is to take $1.00 and put it aside for tithing at church and as a good example we will be doing the same now that we can once more. Serving God in this way is a privilege not a chore!