SCHEMING NOT ALLOWED

In Numbers 16, we read of a highly explosive rebellion that rocked God’s people in the wilderness. Some leaders were not satisfied with the level of assignment God had apportioned to them. Instead of going through Moses to God to ask if there could be an expansion of their job description, they began to eye the priesthood. They wondered how God could give them so little an assignment considering their zeal to serve Him. How could some other people be chosen as the priests when they were there? At some point, they succeeded in convincing 250 popular leaders, who were princes, to favour their cause. What started like a joke had become a great revolt. In the end, the Lord Himself stepped in and delivered judgment to all concerned.

From this story, we should learn to be content with whatever God gives to us. God gives talents to every person according to their abilities. The Holy Spirit is in charge of assigning job descriptions to the children of God. 1 Corinthians 12:11 says:
“But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.”
He is in charge of God’s vineyard, and so He is the One to give you the portion you should work on. Also, He will give you the required ability and the spiritual stamina to perform the assignment. Someone may say, “I am still an ordinary altar minster, whereas by now I should have become a zonal pastor.” The Holy Spirit knows why you are where you are. You can be sure that when you need to occupy a higher office than where you are now, He will take you there. However, to move up the ladder in God’s Kingdom is not by acts of the flesh but by the will of the Spirit. You are not permitted to seek higher office by scheming out your leader in order to take his place. Some people do this and succeed in replacing their leader, but they are completely outside of God’s plan and out of their divine assignment. They are no longer in God’s employment; they now serve their own bellies at best or the devil at worst. Any work done by such ecclesiastical rogues will never attract any reward from Heaven because the foundation of that service is not the Holy Spirit. If they ever make it to Heaven, they will be told “You worked for yourself and not for God, so go and reward yourself.”

Memorise:
But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
1 Corinthians 12:11

Read:
Numbers 16:8-14

Bible in one year:
Exodus 25-26
Romans 11:25-12:8

Key point:
Many leaders are operating in God’s permissive will, outside of His perfect will. That God has not stopped you from following your inordinate ambitions does not mean He approves or supports your actions.