Tag: numbers

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

From temple service to retirement: Lessons from the Levites

Posted on by William Douthwaite

A “through the bible” devotion from Numbers 8.

“You’re too young to retire!”

Yeah, I’ve heard that a few times since my retirement from full time pastoral ministry two years ago.

  • I heard that from people who took early retirement in their fifties.
  • I heard that from folks who didn’t even know how old I was.
  • I heard that from a few who were still working well into their seventies.
  • I heard that from some who simply didn’t want me to retire.

Sometimes I would reply with the Lord’s instructions to Moses, “This is what applies to the Levites: from twenty-five years old and upward they shall enter to perform service in the work of the tent of meeting. But at the age of fifty years they shall retire from service in the work and not work anymore” (Numbers 8:24,25). I often got a puzzled look from those who didn’t know what a Levite was. Whatever.

I detect a double standard there. It’s fine to retire from other occupations but not from church work. If you’re called to be a pastor, you’re in it for life. But if you’re called to be an engineer, a roofer, a police officer, or a graphic designer, retirement is expected.

A Levite engaged in tabernacle or temple work when he was twenty-five and retired at age fifty. Theirs was not an easy job. The Levites attended to the daily, weekly, monthly, and festival sacrifices of Israel. They cared for the facilities and equipment, the oil, incense, and bread, played music and sang songs, and collected the animals, grain and wine used for worship.

I’ve found retirement to be surprisingly busy. My time is filled with grandparenting, writing, teaching, travel, learning, reading, home improvement, and baking. I’ve added new dogs, new friends, new neighbors, and new grandchildren to the adventure, blessings, and joy of life.

Too young to retire? Too old to keep working? I’m not sure you can put a number to it. It’s better to take it one day at a time.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Every gift matters

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Good Free Photos on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Numbers 7.

Not long after my family moved from northeast Philadelphia to a suburb south of the city, our church built a new sanctuary. At the dedication, I paged through the memorial book which listed many specific donations made by members of the congregation. Families donated pews, stained glass windows, tall brass candlesticks, communion ware, hymnals, and everything else needed to furnish the new church. Every gift was needed and everyone could give something.

Numbers chapter 7 reads like such a memorial book. Every tribe brought a gift for worship at the altar. In this case, every offering was identical and significant. Each tribe is equally important. Each tribe makes possible the work of the priests, worship at the tabernacle, and sacrifices on the altar. It’s like commencement, when every graduate’s name is listed in the program and read aloud as he or she walks across the stage to receive their diploma.

How often have you compared yourself with someone else? I know, too often. We all do it. We look up to some and down on others. However, in God’s eyes, you are the most important person he created. So is the one you put on a pedestal and anyone you disparage. Each is precious enough to die for, demonstrated by Jesus’s death on the cross.

And so are you.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Taking a break from the barber

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Brooke Cagle on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Number 6.

If you want to start a new habit or break an old one, it might help to cut things out of your life. Get the junk food out of your house if you want to eat healthier. Delete social media apps off your phone so you don’t waste time scrolling through them. Charge your phone in another room at night, so you aren’t tempted to check your messages before you go to sleep. A lot of life changes are a matter of changing your environment.

Maybe that’s the idea behind the Nazirite vow. It’s interesting that there’s a whole chapter in the bible defining what it means “When a man or woman makes a special vow, namely, the vow of a Nazirite” (Numbers 6:2). It’s not that tough, really. You don’t drink, you don’t get a haircut, and you don’t come near a dead person for a period of time. You cut some things out of your life.

It’s a time to consecrate, or separate yourself, from some of the normal things of this world. It’s a spiritual discipline that sounds like giving up something for Lent. You don’t have to do it. But if you do, you do it for God and you do it for good.

We know of a few who did this. Samson was raised in that lifestyle. John live like that when he was preaching in the wilderness. Paul did it to show that he had not abandoned his Jewish roots by embracing Christ.

I ran into J.C., a car salesman we’ve bought several vehicles from. I almost didn’t recognize him with shoulder length salt-and-pepper hair. He said, “No more haircuts for me!” He was with customers, so I never got a chance to find out why.

I’ve often wondered, “Why would you do that?” Why would you take a Nazirite vow? Josephus writes that some did it in times of need, kind of like a time of praying and fasting. Maybe someone would do it to prove their commitment to God. Or as part of a promise to leave a part of their life behind to start something new.

Jesus said, ““If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24). Sounds like the same kind of practice, updated for New Testament believers, doesn’t it?

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

God counts. And so do you.

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Austris Augusts on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Numbers 1.

“Numbers” is an appropriate title for the fourth book of the bible as God instructs Moses to “Take a census” (Numbers 1:2).

I’m a math guy. I like numbers, equations, statistics, calculations, and graphs. I love the truth that God is a math guy, too. God counts things.

  • “Does [God] not see my ways, and count all my steps? (Job 31:4)
  • “The Lord will count when He registers the peoples” (Psalm 87:6).
  • “[God] counts the number of the stars” (Ps. 147:4).
  • “Even the hairs of your head are all counted” (Matthew 10:30).

This census of Israel is impressive. It reveals an impressive fighting force, “all in Israel who are able to go to war” (Numbers 1:3). It’s not going to be easy. God will give them the victory, but they will have to fight. And it’s not just physical. It’s the “good fight of faith” (1 Timothy 6:12). You’ll need armor to take a stand (Ephesians 6:13). Christian soldiers march onward into war, right?

I’m just one person on a planet where eight billion people live. And yet I am not just a number. I am somebody. God knows my name. He listens to my prayer. I count. I matter. I’m important enough that he sent his son Jesus to die for me.

One of the most important things you can do is let someone know they’re important. They matter. They count. Always start with that, before you tell them they matter to God. Make it real.

Posted in Ministry

What numbers are important?

Posted on by William Douthwaite

numbers1250985368So here’s my question today:  what numbers are important?  We love to talk numbers at church.  Unfortunately, most of them mean very little.

“How big is your congregation?”  I can tell them.  Sort of.  We keep track of our membership.  But we have a good number of people who attend worship on a regular basis who aren’t members.  Then we have those members who for whatever reason don’t attend worship.  Plus, some people are only here part of the year.  What number would you like me to use?

“OK, then how many do you have in worship?”  We keep track of that, too, at least an average number for each Sunday.  However, most people seem to attend worship about twice a month, so no one week gives an accurate picture.  A few years ago we had zero in worship on a Sunday when a hurricane was passing through town.  Do I have to count that week in my average?  On Easter Sunday, our attendance is double what it normally is.  Should I factor in that week?  What number should we use, and what does it tell us?

“Show me the money.”  How are our offerings doing?  It depends on the week.  Are we paying our bills?  Yes.  Could we use more?  Of course.  Do we support missions?  Yup.  Our monthly financial report is over 15 pages long, a literal sea of numbers that sucks you in like a rip current.  They never taught me how to interpret that at the seminary.  I can read some New Testament Greek, though.

“How many lives have been changed?”  No way to tell.  Everyone who worships here may be out affecting other lives where they live and work and study.  I am certain their prayers make a difference in the lives of many, too.

In the initial years of my ministry, numbers meant a lot.  My level of confidence rode the peaks and troughs of attendance, offerings, and new members.  Now they don’t mean so much, probably because I’ve seen God do some of his best work in a meeting with just one other person.