Does It Matter?

David summoned all the leaders of Israel, together with the priests and Levites. All the Levites who were thirty years old or older were counted, and the total came to 38,000. Then David said, “From all the Levites, 24,000 will supervise the work at the Temple of the LORD. Another 6,000 will serve as officials and judges. Another 4,000 will work as gatekeepers, and 4,000 will praise the LORD with the musical instruments I have made.” [1 Chronicles 23.2-5]

Because I am, among other things, a musician, I am particularly interested in David's delegation of Levites to the work of playing musical instruments. Of the 38,000 Levites 30 years old or older, 4000 were designated as musicians. That is a little over 10%.

To fully understand the implications of this, one would need also to understand the demographics of Israel at the time these 38,000 Levites were commissioned. In other words, what percentage of the nation of Israel did these 38,000 Levites account for?

Notwithstanding, if a church has an average budget of around $1,000,000, it is said today that roughly 50% of that budget goes toward personnel ($500,000). Based on the percentage David designated to musicians mentioned above, that would mean that a $1,000,000 annual budget (with $500,000 going toward personnel) would designate around $50,000 to musicians. 

How many individual workers are in each category and how much each individual worker would be paid would necessarily be proportionate to the size of the congregation.

What does this mean?

I don't know. But I pose this question: How many people are frustrated with feeling called to ministry, being told they are "anointed in ministry" (and therefore utilized to minister), and yet struggle with ministry-vs-making-a-living issues of life? 

Does it even matter?

Proverbs says:

A man’s gift makes room for him... [Proverbs 18.16a NKJV]

The Bible also says:

Don’t carry a traveler’s bag with a change of clothes and sandals or even a walking stick. Don’t hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve to be fed. [Matthew 10.10]

Hmm.

Father, may the Church today function to do the work of ministry as Jesus and the Old Testament examples demonstrated. May the Church find proper guidelines by which to pattern its workers and budget. And, may I be found encouraging believers everywhere to seek Your Kingdom above all else with the gifts You have given me regardless.