“This is the service of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of meeting, relating to the most holy things…”

Numbers 4:4 (NKJV)

The Kohathites were a family of Levites who were responsible for handling the holy furnishings in the tabernacle. Because they were a “mobile church”, God gave them detailed instructions for how they were to pack up, transport, and set up the furnishings of the tabernacle in a new location. They had to carefully follow the prescribed procedures, lest they touch the holy things and die.

We who serve in ministry also handle the holy things of God. We no longer have holy furnishings in a tabernacle. The “holy things” we handle are God’s blood-bought saints. Failing to minister to them in the prescribed ways can result in spiritual casualties–people quit serving, leave the church, or in some cases, fall away from the faith.

Over my years in ministry, I have seen far too many people who were once passionately serving Jesus in the church, grow cold and eventually leave the church. This breaks my heart and sets me to self-examination. Have I and our staff handled them correctly? Have we ministered to them in the prescribed way–loving and feeding the flock and speaking the truth in love?

This is no easy task. I find myself relating to the apostle Paul when he asked the question, “Who is sufficient for these things?” (2 Corinthians 2:16) But he also answered his own question.

“It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God. He has enabled us to be ministers of his new covenant.”

2 Corinthians 3:5–6a (NLT)

We all fall short in many ways. But I pray that by God’s grace we would all carry out our God-given work in the church, as those who will give an account to our Lord Jesus Christ. May God help us all handle His holy things with care. And may we all steadfastly continue serving the Lord, not growing weary in well-doing nor allowing resentments to take root in our hearts. We may have failed in the past, but by God’s grace may we love well and finish strong!

Photo by Alexander Grey