17:11 The Lord spoke to Moses: 17:2 “Speak to the Israelites, and receive from them a staff from each tribe,2 one from every tribal leader,3 twelve staffs; you must write each man’s name on his staff. 17:3 You must write Aaron’s name on the staff of Levi; for one staff is for the head of every tribe.4 17:4 You must place them5 in the tent of meeting before the ark of the covenant6 where I meet with you. 17:5 And the staff of the man whom I choose will blossom; so I will rid myself of the complaints of the Israelites, which they murmur against you.”
Have you ever noticed how discontent so many who call themselves Christians are? I guess it is one of the reasons we have so many "churches", and maybe why we have so many "ministries" inside and outside of churches. I mean people get discontent with their pastors and go to another "church" or stop going. Couples get discontent with each other, and rather than work it out - walk out. People get discontent on their jobs and quit or change until they become discontent again. I guess it's true -
As a rule man's a fool;
When it's hot he wants it cool.
When it's cool, he wants it hot,
Always wanting what is not.
Have we ever stopped to think that God judged the children of Israel for that very thing - being discontent, murmuring, complaining, never being satisfied with leadership or with life. He gave them everything they needed, but they never wanted what they needed. Then He gave them what they wanted to show them that what they wanted was not really what they needed.
Paul said he had LEARNED to be content "in whatever state" condition, circumstance, or situation in which he found himself. He even wrote that contentment with godliness is great gain. I fear that we live in a generation that wants neither contentment nor godliness and that is a pity.
I read one minister writing about how another minister raises funds for his ministry. I read another minister critical of another's because he dresses differently or takes an iPad to the pulpit rather than a leather bound Bible, when the guy with the iPad has the same Bible plus many more.
My point is: God has not changed His mind about the complainers and discontents - He still rejects it! LEARN to be content and "perfect godliness in respect for God". Every man (and woman, for that matter) will give account of himself to God. Who has made you a judge over man? Get the beam out of your own eye before you help your brother with his speck. It was not the priest, nor the Levite, that helped the man left beaten, battered, and bruised, it was rather a good Samaritan. Let's all seek to be one to someone for Jesus today! God knows we have far too many priests and Levites complaining and murmuring.
BLESSINGS!
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