The Proper Use of Gifts

“No one outside a priest’s family may eat the sacred offerings. Even guests and hired workers in a priest’s home are not allowed to eat them. However, if the priest buys a slave for himself, the slave may eat from the sacred offerings. And if his slaves have children, they also may share his food. If a priest’s daughter marries someone outside the priestly family, she may no longer eat the sacred offerings. But if she becomes a widow or is divorced and has no children to support her, and she returns to live in her father’s home as in her youth, she may eat her father’s food again. Otherwise, no one outside a priest’s family may eat the sacred offerings. “Any such person who eats the sacred offerings without realizing it must pay the priest for the amount eaten, plus an additional 20 percent. The priests must not let the Israelites defile the sacred offerings brought to the Lord by allowing unauthorized people to eat them. This would bring guilt upon them and require them to pay compensation. I am the Lord who makes them holy.” Leviticus 22:10-16 (New Living Translation, NLT)

The things we read in the Old Testament were meant to be taken literally by those living at that time. Now, for us living under the New Covenant, the Old Testament is meant to show us deeper truths than what is seen on the surface. This passage was meant to be obeyed to the letter under the Law of Moses. Only certain people could eat of the offerings brought to the tabernacle and then to the temple. Today, since Jesus paid the price for us, we need not bring offerings of animals, grain, and so forth. So, what do these verses say to us?

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. II Timothy 3:16 (New Living Translation, NLT)

If all Scripture is useful to teach us, then what does this passage from Leviticus teach us? The offerings the people brought in the Old Testament were to be the best that they had; animals without any defect and the best of their harvests. Only those who ministered to the Lord and their households could eat of it. We can glean a couple things from this.

First of all, our gifts are to go to God and His house. We are not to use our gifts and talents to glorify those who do not serve God. If we can sing, we should be singing to God and to honor God. If we are athletic, we should use those talents to glorify God and to bless His people. If we have a gift for working with numbers, we should use that gift to promote God’s kingdom. We are to give the best we have to the Lord and to those who love Him. Our gifts are for God and for the benefit of His body. We may use our abilities in the secular world, but our motive should be to present our gifts and the rewards that we gain from them (such as money) to God. Those who use the gifts God gave them to promote themselves or to promote the devil and the world system are prostituting their gifts.

Secondly, this passage shows us that those who minister on behalf of God- pastors, evangelists, etc.- should get the best. We are not to keep spiritual leaders poor and lowly. They should have the very best we have to give them. They should not be living in the poor section of town, but in the better neighborhoods. They should have good cars, good clothes, and money to spare so they can care for their families and bless others. We should honor those who work for God in ministry by taking good care of them materially, just as Israel did for the priests and Levites.

Everything we have comes from God and should be given back to Him in one way or another. Our skills, abilities, gifts, and talents are God-given and we should honor that by giving the best to the Lord and to those who serve Him.