All Alike

 

1 Chronicles 24 is a list of names of priests and the lot that fell to them. They were each given an appointment by God specifically for them. It points out twice that they were all done alike, even the younger brothers.

We are all priests before God now, anyone who is among His saints. We minister before the Lord and have been assigned tasks before Him. And we’re all treated the same. The Bible doesn’t say He gives gifts to gifted men. It just says that He gave gifts to men.

Of course, that doesn’t mean only men get gifts and assignments from the Lord. In Christ there is no male or female, slave or free. There is no older and younger. There is no preference or favoritism. Ephesians and Colossians say there is no partiality with God.

To get assigned by lot doesn’t mean it was up to chance which assignment they got. That means they put it to the Lord what their assignment would be instead of deciding themselves. They would have made decisions such as bigger and better assignments going to the oldest brother and such.

The Scriptures make it clear that the younger brothers were included just as the older brothers in the casting of lots. It means that the Lord chose for each of them what their place would be and everyone accepted the Lord’s decision.

Timothy is urged by Paul to not let anyone look down on him because of how young he was and to stir up the gift he was given.

He was given a ministry by the Lord and maybe wasn’t being bold to put it to use because of how others perceived him.

As the Body of Christ, we need to recognize God using each and every member of the body for His good purposes and encourage each in their position, male or female, old or young, without regard to education level or cultural background.

It’s God who appoints us to our positions in the Body of Christ. We need to trust and give thanks to the God who does all things well.