AVOID GOING INTO ERROR

WISDOM FOR LIVING DEVOTIONAL

NOVEMBER 1, 2020

TOPIC: AVOID GOING INTO ERROR

BY T. O. BANSO

“Micah said to him, ‘Dwell with me, and be a father and a priest to me, and I will give you ten shekels of silver per year, a suit of clothes, and your sustenance.’ So the Levite went in. Then the Levite was content to dwell with the man; and the young man became like one of his sons to him.  So Micah consecrated the Levite, and the young man became his priest, and lived in the house of Micah. Then Micah said, ‘Now I know that the LORD will be good to me, since I have a Levite as priest!’” (Judges 17:10-13 New King James Version).  

In Judges 17, we see a Levite who also did was right in his sight. Levites had no permanent land allocated to them to live but were allocated 48 cities within which to live; Bethlehem, where he came from, was not one of the cities granted the Levites (Joshua 21).  

Probably because the support for priests and Levites God commanded the Israelites to give was no longer forthcoming, this Levite looked for a place to settle down and earn a living. He, however, ended up engaging in idolatry.

He sold his call for money and position as shown in our focal text, Judges 17:10-13:  “Micah said to him, ‘Dwell with me, and be a father and a priest to me, and I will give you ten shekels of silver per year, a suit of clothes, and your sustenance.’ So the Levite went in. Then the Levite was content to dwell with the man; and the young man became like one of his sons to him.  So Micah consecrated the Levite, and the young man became his priest, and lived in the house of Micah. Then Micah said, ‘Now I know that the LORD will be good to me, since I have a Levite as priest!’” (New King James Version).  

This Levite from Bethlehem left his place for the Mountains of Ephraim to the house of Micah to endorse their idol-worshipping by becoming a personal priest and father to him – Levites were not to be a personal priest to anybody or family.  He was performing his duties in a house as against in the Tabernacle or in a designated city.

A Levite who was supposed to be involved in the worship of God and teach the people to do so became a priest to a family involved in idol worship. That was strange! This Levite should have known better than supporting Micah’s error. Psalm 49:20 says “A man who is in honor, yet does not understand, is like the beasts that perish” (New King James Version).

This Levite demoted himself. That scripture says he became like one of Micah’s sons! He lost whatever honour he had left when he also allowed himself to be consecrated or appointed by Micah. What power did Micah have to do that?  Everybody did what seemed right in his own eyes. Everybody, including this Levite, was guilty.

Take note of what Micah said after employing this Levite? “Then Micah said, ‘Now I know that the LORD will be good to me, since I have a Levite as priest!’” (Judges 17:13 New King James Version). That was not true. Even if an Arch-bishop supports you in your error, it doesn’t make you right; it doesn’t bring God’s presence to you. The pastor may tell you, “You are blessed, go in peace.” That is a lie. God is angry with the wicked every day (Psalm 7:11). The LORD says there is no peace for the wicked (Isaiah 48:22; 57:21).

No servant of God should allow his ministry to be for the highest bidder. Your anointing should not be for sale. Jesus said, “Give as freely as you have received!” (Matthew 10:8b New Living Translation).  The Bible says a servant of God must shepherd the flock of God serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly, and not as being lords but being examples to the flock (1 Peter 5:2-3).

Don’t commercialize your anointing even if others do. Where you’re rightfully paid in accordance with the Word of God and in appreciation of the ministry you’ve done, never forget that you’re a servant of God.

Paul says, “I am not bound to obey people just because they pay me, yet I have become a servant of everyone so that I can bring them to Christ” (1 Corinthians 9:19 New Living Translation). You are not bound to obey people just because they’ve paid you or will pay you. You shouldn’t obey them to do what is wrong just because they’ve paid you or will pay you. They may pay you but you’re a servant of God.

Paul says again, “Obviously, I’m not trying to be a people pleaser! No, I am trying to please God. If I were still trying to please people, I would not be Christ’s servant” (Galatians 1:10 New Living Translation).

This Levite didn’t behave like a servant of God. He eventually became a servant of Micah! Hear what he said in Judges 18:4: “Thus and so Micah did for me. He has hired me, and I have become his priest” (New King James Version).  Don’t be a hireling – someone who works only for money. Who is your boss – God or man?

TAKE ACTION!

If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. I urge you to take the following steps: *Admit you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.

Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto you today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and resurrected the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank you, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.

I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You will need to join a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church in your area where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like the palm tree and grow like the cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The LORD be with you.

PRAYER POINTS: Father, save me from going into and leading others into error. I repent of unfaithfulness in any area of my life. Help me to be faithful to You and man. I shall not commercialize the anointing of God upon my life; my call is not for sale in Jesus’ name. I shall not be a hireling.

(For over 300 in-depth and powerful messages by T.O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).

T. O. Banso is the President, Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
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Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
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Website: www.cedarministry.org