Values: Persons, Things, Christ

Narrator: Chris Genthree

• 2 min. read • grade level: 7

⁴To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, ⁵Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. ⁶Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. ⁷Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, (1 Peter 2:4‑7)In 1 Peter 2:4⁴To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, (1 Peter 2:4) the Lord Jesus is precious to God. In the seventh verse, we who believe find Him precious also. We value what God values. How precious is He to us? The preciousness of an object is derived from the value placed upon it.

Persons (Lev. 27:1-8¹And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, ²Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When a man shall make a singular vow, the persons shall be for the Lord by thy estimation. ³And thy estimation shall be of the male from twenty years old even unto sixty years old, even thy estimation shall be fifty shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary. ⁴And if it be a female, then thy estimation shall be thirty shekels. ⁵And if it be from five years old even unto twenty years old, then thy estimation shall be of the male twenty shekels, and for the female ten shekels. ⁶And if it be from a month old even unto five years old, then thy estimation shall be of the male five shekels of silver, and for the female thy estimation shall be three shekels of silver. ⁷And if it be from sixty years old and above; if it be a male, then thy estimation shall be fifteen shekels, and for the female ten shekels. ⁸But if he be poorer than thy estimation, then he shall present himself before the priest, and the priest shall value him; according to his ability that vowed shall the priest value him. (Leviticus 27:1‑8))

¹And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, ²Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When a man shall make a singular vow, the persons shall be for the Lord by thy estimation. ³And thy estimation shall be of the male from twenty years old even unto sixty years old, even thy estimation shall be fifty shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary. ⁴And if it be a female, then thy estimation shall be thirty shekels. ⁵And if it be from five years old even unto twenty years old, then thy estimation shall be of the male twenty shekels, and for the female ten shekels. ⁶And if it be from a month old even unto five years old, then thy estimation shall be of the male five shekels of silver, and for the female thy estimation shall be three shekels of silver. ⁷And if it be from sixty years old and above; if it be a male, then thy estimation shall be fifteen shekels, and for the female ten shekels. ⁸But if he be poorer than thy estimation, then he shall present himself before the priest, and the priest shall value him; according to his ability that vowed shall the priest value him. (Leviticus 27:1‑8)Under the law of Moses, persons had various values according to their age and usefulness. You will notice that the female was valued less than the male. Perhaps it is because the male is representative of Christ and the female of ourselves. Surely He has more value than we!

The greatest value was placed on those between the ages of twenty and sixty. These were in active service. They could produce the most and were most valiant in battle.

Younger ones had a lesser value, but there was potential there for the future. Older ones, though they could not work as hard, had value too. They had experience. We see the same with the Levites. At the "age of fifty years they... shall serve no more: but shall minister with their brethren." Num. 8:25, 26²⁵And from the age of fifty years they shall cease waiting upon the service thereof, and shall serve no more: ²⁶But shall minister with their brethren in the tabernacle of the congregation, to keep the charge, and shall do no service. Thus shalt thou do unto the Levites touching their charge. (Numbers 8:25‑26).

The Apostle Paul's admonition in 2 Tim. 2:2²And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. (2 Timothy 2:2) shows us how these age groups fit together at the present time. "The things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also." There are young ones needing to be taught. There are experienced ones able to teach. It is so important that these teach those in the assembly who are younger and that the younger apply themselves to learn and practice the truth that has been held and practiced for many years.

As Paul was the aged apostle who gave this advice to a younger brother, it seems that this scripture ought to be a special concern to those who are older, not to dominate, but to encourage their younger brethren.

Things (Lev. 25:11-16¹¹A jubilee shall that fiftieth year be unto you: ye shall not sow, neither reap that which groweth of itself in it, nor gather the grapes in it of thy vine undressed. ¹²For it is the jubilee; it shall be holy unto you: ye shall eat the increase thereof out of the field. ¹³In the year of this jubilee ye shall return every man unto his possession. ¹⁴And if thou sell ought unto thy neighbor, or buyest ought of thy neighbor's hand, ye shall not oppress one another: ¹⁵According to the number of years after the jubilee thou shalt buy of thy neighbor, and according unto the number of years of the fruits he shall sell unto thee: ¹⁶According to the multitude of years thou shalt increase the price thereof, and according to the fewness of years thou shalt diminish the price of it: for according to the number of the years of the fruits doth he sell unto thee. (Leviticus 25:11‑16))

¹¹A jubilee shall that fiftieth year be unto you: ye shall not sow, neither reap that which groweth of itself in it, nor gather the grapes in it of thy vine undressed. ¹²For it is the jubilee; it shall be holy unto you: ye shall eat the increase thereof out of the field. ¹³In the year of this jubilee ye shall return every man unto his possession. ¹⁴And if thou sell ought unto thy neighbor, or buyest ought of thy neighbor's hand, ye shall not oppress one another: ¹⁵According to the number of years after the jubilee thou shalt buy of thy neighbor, and according unto the number of years of the fruits he shall sell unto thee: ¹⁶According to the multitude of years thou shalt increase the price thereof, and according to the fewness of years thou shalt diminish the price of it: for according to the number of the years of the fruits doth he sell unto thee. (Leviticus 25:11‑16)How much value do we put upon things in this world? Soon, very soon, we are going to hear the shout that summons us home. Just as the value of an Israelite's field decreased near the year of jubilee, so the value of things in this world should be very little to us.

Certain things are necessary for our lives and Scripture tells us what they are: "having food and raiment, let us be therewith content." 1 Tim. 6:8⁸And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. (1 Timothy 6:8). It is the desire for wealth, power or position that drowns men in destruction. How many have ruined their testimony and "pierced themselves through with many sorrows" because they lusted after things.

In a former day Jerusalem was about to be destroyed. Baruch had desires for himself in the city, but Jeremiah said to him, "Seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not." Jer. 45:5⁵And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not: for, behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith the Lord: but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest. (Jeremiah 45:5). May we all realize in our own lives that "godliness with contentment is great gain." 1 Tim. 6:6⁶But godliness with contentment is great gain. (1 Timothy 6:6).

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