And thou shalt give the money, wherewith the odd number of them is to be redeemed, unto Aaron and to his sons. And Moses took the redemption money of them that were over and above them that were redeemed by the Levites: of the firstborn of the children of Israel took he the money; a thousand three hundred and threescore and five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary: and Moses gave the money of them that were redeemed unto Aaron and to his sons, according to the word of the LORD, as the LORD commanded Moses. | ||
| Numbers 3:49–51 | ||
| The principle of redemption was to be a life for a life. In place of a life, that which most closely touched a man’s life was to be offered: namely, money. Because one’s work is where one invests the bulk of his time and energy, that which reveals most about someone’s priorities is the way he uses his money. Talk is cheap. The proof of the pudding is not in the song I sing, but what I do when the basket goes by. Does this mean we can purchase our salvation? No. Our salvation was already purchased, not by our own efforts or money but by the blood of Christ on the cross of Calvary (1 Peter 1:18–19). Therefore, the way we spend money—as well as the way we spend our time, talents, and every other resource given to us—should reflect that which was so freely and sacrificially spent for us when our Lord gave His life to set us free. Pastor Jon Courson | ||
