The Cost of “Dedication” Remorse
Leviticus 27:28 says: But no devoted thing that a man devotes to the Lord, of anything that he has, whether man or beast, or of his inherited field, shall be sold or redeemed; every devoted think is most holy to the Lord.
I love the passion that I see new members have for the church. Studies have shown that newer members are more likely to spread the word about the church they attend, helping to attract growth and momentum. From there, the goal is to get those newer members connected so that they stay passionate about the Lord and growing in His church. And, as time moves on, reminding people of God’s grace through the different channels offered by the church.
We move up and down in our passion for the Lord. Staying passionate is hard. Things happen. Depression happens. Hard knocks happen. But then joy happens, and it can renew or reignite our faith and passion for the pursuits of God. And great things can happen in those periods of time. But we want to always remember that, even in those times where our spiritual life feels strained, the Lord is a present reality of hope.
When the Lord was presenting His Law to those who had just left Egypt during the Exodus, He gives a peculiar chapter to His people concerning their passion for following Him and the dedication they would have for responding to His goodness. I call this chapter, “The Chapter of Dedication Remorse.”
Leviticus chapter 27 is dedicated to our human nature. It is dedicated to the knowledge that we get overzealous in our commitments. We have this tendency to vow, offer, or dedicate things. We say we’re going to do this, and then realize we don’t have the time to do it. We see a hurt, and in our compassion to respond, commit to accomplishing something that we cannot deliver on. We are moved by the Holy Spirit to serve or give in God’s Kingdom, and so we commit to a certain endeavor. Suddenly, we comprehend that we cannot fulfill that commitment. It happens all the time.
God realized that the Israelites would over-commit in their desire to be faithful. Some could not afford what they had pledged. Some could not perform the duty they had offered. Others simply found that they no longer wanted to give what they had promised. So, He gave an entire set of ways that the people could walk-back their gifts. There was a “re-stocking” fee placed on the different types of gifts that could be given, giving people a way out of their “dedication remorse.”
Why would God allow this? I believe this is so that:
(1) The Israelites understood the severity of the vows they pledged
(2) They saw the costly nature of those pledges that had been factored into a particular plan which were now not able to be used. Those resources were no longer available for that purpose.
(3) His people know that He understands our nature and is a God of grace. There are certain redactions that He allows.
What can we learn from Leviticus chapter 27?
(1) God loves our passion for following and serving Him, but we should keep our capacity to serve in a doable perspective. Serve, but evaluate what you can do. Do not let this become an excuse to cloud our schedules with frivolous pursuits, only to find that we have no margin and no room for our Lord.
(2) It is important to understand the hardship we place on a group or ministry when we have to retract our involvement. That/those resources are no longer available and must be found elsewhere or the plan reevaluated. Only rescind when it is absolutely necessary.
(3) Ultimately, God is a God of grace and He will provide. If we are not able to fulfill our obligations, He will provide in the form of creativity, other providers, or an understanding of the proper direction to now pursue. We are not cast out of His love because of what we over-committed. He forgives, and because He forgives, He restores. And because He restores, He gives us the opportunity to respond in other ways. What will His grace show you at these times?
May God continue to grant us the heart to serve and raise up more with a willing heart to be a part of His conquering Kingdom. Amen.
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