Despise Not Your Gift
The sermon emphasizes the importance of being content with what God has given us and not seeking something more, lest we fall into the trap of rebelling against God's plan.
Erlo Stegen emphasizes the importance of valuing the gifts God has entrusted to us, using the rebellion of Korah as a cautionary tale. Korah, despite being a Levite, was discontent with his role and sought to usurp the priesthood, leading to his destruction and the death of many others. The sermon warns against envy and dissatisfaction with our God-given roles, illustrating that true fulfillment comes from accepting and honoring what God has assigned to us. Stegen also shares a modern example of a woman who sought a gift not given to her by God, resulting in a counterfeit experience. Ultimately, the message is clear: handle your gifts with care and do not covet what others have.
Text
Num 16:1 - 5
1 Now Korah the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, with Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men; 2 and they rose up before Moses with some of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation, representatives of the congregation, men of renown. 3 They gathered together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, "You take too much upon yourselves, for all the congregation is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?"
4 So when Moses heard it, he fell on his face; 5 and he spoke to Korah and all his company, saying, "Tomorrow morning the LORD will show who is His and who is holy, and will cause him to come near to Him. That one whom He chooses He will cause to come near to Him.
Are you discontented with what God has entrusted to you? The earth swallowed Korah up and he and those with him went straight to hell. Korah was a Levite but there was poison in his heart and he influenced other Levites as well. Was being a Levite a task to look down upon? No. God chose him to bring incense to God and Korah was of high regard among the tribe of Israel, but that wasn't enough for him. He wanted to snatch the priesthood from Moses and Aaron.
A certain woman spoke in tongues and her husband was very impressed with it. He called Rev Stegen to witness her spirituality. Ironically, the Christians couldn't understand what she said but a complete heathen girl understood and translated what she said. Her "gift" of tongues wasn't from God. What happened was that this woman wasn't satisfied with what God had given to her and she wanted to speak in tongues like someone else. Eventually she got what she wanted but it wasn't from God but from the devil.
Two hundred and fifty men died with Korah and later when the other Israelites complained about those who were killed, many of them died on the spot. It was even worse than when Korah rebelled.
Do not side with a person who has gone wrong, or you will be destroyed with him. Handle with great care what God has given to you. David was an insignificant herdsboy, but God chose him to be king over Israel. He was a man after God's heart.
Sermon Outline
- I. Introduction
- A. The story of Korah and his rebellion against Moses and Aaron
- B. The consequences of Korah's actions and the importance of being content with our gifts
- II. The Dangers of Discontentment
- A. The story of the woman who spoke in tongues and her desire to have a different gift
- B. The consequences of seeking something more than what God has given us
- III. The Importance of Being Content
- A. The example of David, who was content with his role as a herdsboy and was chosen by God to be king
- B. The importance of handling with care what God has given to us
- IV. Conclusion
- A. The importance of being content with our gifts and not seeking something more
- B. The consequences of rebelling against God's plan for our lives
Key Quotes
“The earth swallowed Korah up and he and those with him went straight to hell.” — Erlo Stegen
“Do not side with a person who has gone wrong, or you will be destroyed with him.” — Erlo Stegen
“Handle with great care what God has given to you.” — Erlo Stegen
Application Points
- We must handle with great care what God has given to us and not seek something more.
- Being content with our gifts allows us to fulfill our purpose and role in life.
- Rebellion against God's plan can lead to destruction and chaos in our lives.