The Unheralded Servants

OT: 1 Chronicles 23-24
NT: Matthew 7

1 Chronicles 23:28-31 — The duty of the Levites was to help Aaron’s descendants in the service of the temple of the LORD: to be in charge of the courtyards, the side rooms, the purification of all sacred things and the performance of other duties at the house of God. They were in charge of the bread set out on the table, the flour for the grain offerings, the unleavened wafers, the baking and the mixing, and all measurements of quantity and size. They were also to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD. They were to do the same in the evening and whenever burnt offerings were presented to the LORD on Sabbaths and at New Moon festivals and at appointed feasts. They were to serve before the LORD regularly in the proper number and in the way prescribed for them.
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There was no glory in being a Levite. Much like garbage collectors in today's world, Levites were servants who performed an important duty yet received little recognition from their fellow Israelites. Born into the tribe of Levi, one of Jacob's sons, the Levites owned no territory and were called upon by the Law of Moses to carry out a variety of tasks related to the worship of the Lord and instruction in His Law. In this chapter, we see the various duties of Levites and catch a glimpse of their daily routine. They were the monastics of the Old Testament period in some ways, though Levites could marry and have children. They rose every morning to worship the Lord, carried out various daily tasks, and ended their day in worship. Modern monks do the same, with a few extra duties thrown in.

We still have such unheralded servants in our churches today. There are those who unlock the church building every morning, those who fix the coffee, those who set up chairs, those who lead the church in worship in music and voice, and many others who fly under the radar. However, these men and women serve the Lord because they choose to, not because they were born into a tribe or family. They have followed the path of our Lord, who cast aside His pride to take on flesh and blood (Phil 2:1-11), and who knelt humbly to wash the feet of His disciples in the Upper Room (John 13). Being an unheralded servant is not glamorous but it also does not go without the Lord's notice. Your Father in heaven sees what is done in the secret and rewards based on His good pleasure. He knew what the Levites did and He knows what you and I do. So, are you serving for the Lord or for your own glory? Are you willing to put YOUR pride aside to follow the path of Christ?

Be God's.