Kehinde A. Bolutife
“And all thy estimation shall be according to the shekel of the sanctuary: twenty gerahs shall be the shekel” (Leviticus 27:25).
“This they shall give, everyone that passeth among them that are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary: (a shekel is twenty gerahs) an half shekel shall be the offering of the Lord.”
“The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less…to make an atonement for your souls” (Exodus 30: 13, 15).
After God had brought out the children of Israel out of Egypt into the wilderness and instituted the system of worship under Moses; He made them to know very clearly what the terms and condition are by which men must conduct themselves in the discharge of their religious worship. Under this system of worship, gifts, offerings, and sacrifices formed a major part of temple worship. However, the people would not be allowed to carry out their worship activities anyhow as they liked to, just as Moses would not be allowed to build the tabernacle anyhow but according to the pattern shown him. God therefore set a standard measure in the tabernacle of worship after which every worshiper-poor and rich; small and great must agree to. It is called ‘The shekel of the sanctuary’ which is a fixed, unalterable, and non-negotiable standard of measurement to which every worshiper must conform to. Anything more or less would not be accepted from anyone.
It doesn’t matter what a shekel measures outside the sanctuary, in the sanctuary of worship, every other shekel must measure agreeably with the shekel of the sanctuary. And in the sanctuary, a shekel equals twenty gerahs. God did this so that men would know and understand that God has His Own standard measurement that is non-negotiable for everyone that would come unto Him; and that men may know that in God’s Presence, not ‘anything goes’.
Dear reader, the standard of God stands very sure! Irrespective of your age, sex and colour; regardless of your social or educational status; no matter your religious or denominational affiliation; God’s standard remains the same for all and sundry. God is no Respecter of persons and with Him is no variableness or shadow of turning. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. He is not like the erratic and unstable sons of men that He should lie; neither is He a man that He should repent. He is the unchanging God in a constantly changing world. Failure to understand this is to be deceived by false teachings that in the Presence of God, “anything goes”. God has His standards and the standards of God stand very sure regardless of men’s opinions.
God’s standard for entering into His kingdom is non-negotiable: “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”This is God’s unalterable standard for anyone who desires to enter into His kingdom. Whoever fails to meet this standard for whatever reason has just forfeited his chances of placement in the kingdom of God. The only standard for acceptance into God’s kingdom is to be born again of the Holy Spirit with the divine life of Christ when a sinner acknowledges his sins, sees his utter helplessness to help himself out of the death penalty of sin; places his faith in Jesus Christ and His atoning death for sinners and accept His [Christ] righteousness in exchange for his own sins. Any hope of entering the kingdom of God outside this laid down standard is a hope that will make ashamed at the end of life. The natural man cannot enter the kingdom of God by ways of good morals, self-righteousness, and religious duties of ablution, prayer and fasting, alms giving, pilgrimage to ‘holy’ lands or tithe and offering; the Way to come to God is the same for the poor and the rich. God cannot be bought over by our riches or position. Our poverty or lack can neither attract the waving of His divine standard for meeting up with his glory nor give us reprieve. “The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel when they give…to make atonement for their souls.” EXCEPT a man be born again; he cannot see the kingdom of God. There could be thousands of religious views in the world on how a man can become acceptable unto God, yet, the standard of God remains the same; Jesus authoritatively declared “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me”. Any other hope of entering the kingdom of God outside this laid down Standard is a hope that will ultimately put you to shame!
In like manner, God’s standard of kingdom lifestyle is also non-negotiable. The call of God in Christ Jesus is a holy calling: “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began” (2 Timothy 1:9 KJV). Consequently, without holiness NO man shall see the Lord (Heb. 12:14). Everyone needs to understand this very clearly that the call of God in Christ Jesus is not a call unto sin and worldly lifestyle. The scripture says it very clear that in Christ Jesus there is NO sin to sin! (1 John 3:5) “Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he (Christ) is righteous. The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work” (1 John 7-8 NIV). “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “NO” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age” (Titus 2:11-12 NIV). “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal; The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity” (2 Timothy 2:19). “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation” (1Pe:1:15). There is no other way to say it better and clearer than the way the scriptures have copiously and emphatically said it. HOLINESS UNTO THE
LORD is the watchword in the kingdom of God (Exodus 30:39). God’s children are expected to live a life of holiness in the family, at work places, in the school, and wherever they find themselves. Holiness is the hallmark of kingdom living. It must also reflect in our dressing, talking, business transactions and ceremonies; “be ye holy in all manner of conversation”. Not just on Sundays or when you are happy alone, but all the days of our lives. “That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear; in holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life. (Luke 1:74, 75). Failure to meet this standard is what will make many who profess Christ to hear Jesus declare unto them at the end of age, “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Has holiness become your lifestyle? It is better you align your life with the standard requirement of God as lifestyle in the kingdom before it is too late. Without holiness, no man shall see the Lord.
LORD is the watchword in the kingdom of God (Exodus 30:39). God’s children are expected to live a life of holiness in the family, at work places, in the school, and wherever they find themselves. Holiness is the hallmark of kingdom living. It must also reflect in our dressing, talking, business transactions and ceremonies; “be ye holy in all manner of conversation”. Not just on Sundays or when you are happy alone, but all the days of our lives. “That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear; in holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life. (Luke 1:74, 75). Failure to meet this standard is what will make many who profess Christ to hear Jesus declare unto them at the end of age, “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Has holiness become your lifestyle? It is better you align your life with the standard requirement of God as lifestyle in the kingdom before it is too late. Without holiness, no man shall see the Lord.
God’s standard for service in the kingdom also remains the same. In these days when everyone seems to be creating a “shekel” after their personal views and opinions in the name of serving God thereby confusing men to think that God has different “shekels” for different ministers, ministries and denominations. God’s standard for Christian service and ministry remains the same. “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1Co:3:11, 12). Jesus Christ is the firm, abiding and immovable Foundation upon which Christian service or ministry must be built. He is the Standard “Shekel of the sanctuary” of ministry for every Christian minister. Jesus presented before all a Model of life before service; practice before preaching; doing before teaching. Jesus is a Model of servant leadership in all humility and meekness; seeking only the glory of the Father above. He did not exploit people to enrich himself. He showed us by practical example that ministry is not first of all an activity or just being busy doing something, but life! Jesus spent all His life seeking to save those who are lost and reconciling men to God. He never for once lost sight of the priority of His life. Many today have succeeded in building great ministerial empires with wood, hay and stubble-materials which cannot pass the test of fire which must sure try every man’s work. “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abides which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss…” (1 Cor. 3: 11-15). Let us therefore measure our works of ministry after “the shekel of the sanctuary” and judge ourselves, that we be not judged of the Lord.
It is also very needful for me to tell you that in these days when the sacredness of marriage is being perverted on a global scale, God’s standard is still unchanged! Though there are several teachings and opinions of men on marriage, the standard of the Lord still remains one man one woman. Polygamy and divorce are corruptions that the fallen human nature introduced into marriage. “…but from the beginning it was not so.” Gay and lesbianism are developments from the pits of hell to destroy the sanctity of marriage institution and by extension the whole human race; in the beginning it was not so! “And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female? And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder” (Matthew 19: 4-6; Gen. 2:24).
In whatever we do, let us remember that there is a fixed, non-negotiable, standard by which God will judge our actions and inactions in matters of life and ministry; it is called “the shekel of the sanctuary”. God, and not the masses defined it. Those who subtract or add to it do so at their own perils! It is kept and preserved in the Temple of worship. It reveals every false measurement. It is God’s Standard Measurement! And if you ask me what the shekel of the sanctuary is, I will tell you the BIBLE! And as an unknown author puts it, “This Book contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveler’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s sword, and the Christian’s charter. Christ is its subject; our good its design; and the glory of God its end. It should fill the memory, rule the heart and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently and prayerfully. It is given to you in life, will be open in the judgment, and be remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibility, rewards the greatest labor, and condemns all who trifle with its holy precepts.”
Got a copy of the Bible? You need one. And it is high time you began to read, study and apply it to every area your life lest you be found wanting in the balances when every ‘offering’ will eventually be measured after the shekel of the sanctuary.
God bless you.
This message inspired me so much am really bless and discovered my very self. More annoiting and grace sir.
Amen!
Do keep us in your prayers
Inspiring word. Thank you for being a great blessing.
The Lord be praised!
Do keep us in your prayers.
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