Leviticus 4:27-28 English Standard Version

27 “If anyone of the common people sins unintentionally in doing any one of the things that by the Lord’s commandments ought not to be done, and realizes his guilt, 28 or the sin which he has committed is made known to him, he shall bring for his offering a goat, a female without blemish, for his sin which he has committed.

These commands are written for the common people, not to uncommon people.

What makes one common and the others special?

Also note that the command addresses his unintentional sin and does not include women.

Why is the man commanded and the women ignored?

Note the female goat is offered for sacrifice.

Why is the female sacrificed and the male free to live?

It is always easier to ask questions than to answer them.

Here is a question to ponder. Does the injustice of it all bother you?

If it does, does that question our ability to trust God? God has a plan and a purpose in all things and when we are bothered by what we deem to be an injustice we want to see justice done. It is a natural reaction to the life we live in the flesh. It is a common emotion.

Luke 11:42 English Standard Version (ESV) “But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.”

Those with titles and responsibilities are held to a higher standard by our Lord.

Suddenly it sounds easier to be common and trust that God is just. That goes against how we feel to be loved by God and how that great love makes us feel special. We are not alone in those feelings, it is common amongst all His children.

If we desire the better gifts, remember that they also come with greater responsibilities and higher standards.

1 Corinthians 12:27-31a English Standard Version

27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts.

My experience in the past holds memories of individuals who held a dishonest desire for what they considered the higher gifts. We can call a desire dishonest if it is born of the flesh and not the Spirit. We have lived in a world that rewards self-achievement with worldly praise, good job.

Promotions come to those who have achieved some level of success in their chosen field. That is the world and we now live in the Kingdom of God that does not reward obedience of faith with promotions. The way we can believe that by faith is identified in 1 Corinthians 12:31b which was not quoted above. “And I will show you a still more excellent way” is the preamble to the love chapter 1 Corinthians 13.

1 Corinthians 13:4 English Standard Version (ESV) Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant.

A dishonest desire does not demonstrate the very first descriptors of agape love. It is impatient, arrogant, envious and boasts of what it has done to deserve what they consider is a promotion.

1 Corinthians 7:35 English Standard Version (ESV) I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.

Note closely that Paul addressed undivided devotion to the Lord before speaking to the issues of the appointed ministries. God made those appointments based on His perfect knowledge and the enforcement of His will that was determined before the world began. Nothing we do or say will change the will of God in those appointments.

Honest desires originate from our personal relationship with our Lord.