Community in Leviticus

Today I was reading in the book of Leviticus. This book that's considered part of the Torah ("Instruction" or sometimes referred to as "The Law") is not exactly exciting reading that keeps a person on pins and needles. It contains detailed instructions on the rules and regulations the Hebrews were to follow in their religious life as well as their social life.

In Chapter 13, Moses details the instructions to follow if someone presents himself/herself with a skin disorder. At first glance, the reading is mundane and not terribly relevant to a culture that has the technological and medical advances we have today. Dig a little deeper...

Consider what God was doing with the Hebrews in the desert during those 40 years. Before allowing them to enter into the promised land, God was preparing His people to be a community. In other words, He wanted them to be other-centered, not self-centered. That's what community is all about!

When we begin to put others' needs before our own, we'll discover community. When we sacrifice for the good of others, we'll discover community. When we love our neighbor as we love ourselves, we'll discover community.

Community is a theme found in Scripture from the beginning of the Bible to the end. Our relationship with God isn't just vertical. It's also horizontal. When we have both the vertical and horizontal in our lives, we'll discover something more than just community. We'll discover the cross!

I Want More!

Before asking for more, consider what you've done with what you already have.

The Parable of the Talents found in Matthew 25:14-29 details a story that Jesus told about three servants who were given specific amounts of money by their master. The master's money was entrusted to them. That's an important piece of the story that often gets overlooked. When you and I are entrusted with something valuable, the owner trusts that we will not squander what we've been given - that we will be good stewards!

We've been entrusted with our lives on this earth. From a Biblical perspective, our lives are not our own. God forms us in our mother's womb (Psalm 139:13) and breathes life into us (Genesis 2:7). The Apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 6:20 that are bought with a price. Not only our material things and money, but also our relationships have been given to us from our Sovereign Lord. They are not our own, but we are entrusted with them as stewards.

The Parable of the Talents concludes with the moral of the story found in verse 29:

"To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away."

What an important truth for us! Before asking for more, consider what you've done with what you already have.