This year I have committed to read through the Bible.  I am using the YOU VERSION  app from Life Church on my tablet (android tablet that is).  I have not missed a day and am embarrassed to admit how much I did not know was in the Bible.  Kind of a sad commentary about my diligence in Bible reading.

Well, this week I was reading the chapters in my “plan” which included Numbers chapters 2 and 3.  I was clicking away…reading diligently, then I came to Numbers 3: 14-38.  I had never seen this before.  Take a minute and read this section HERE…I will wait.

Do you see what I see? If you know me, and know what I am passionate about, what would have grabbed my attention?

RIGHT…God set the Levites apart and designated them as the first Church Facility Managers.  God personally assigned, consecrated and wrote the job description for the first Facility Managers for his House of Worship.  This is not just a play on words or me taking scripture out of context…this is real.  Pay close attention to to these verses:

25 These two clans were responsible to care for the Tabernacle, including the sacred tent with its layers of coverings, the curtain at its entrance,26 the curtains of the courtyard that surrounded the Tabernacle and altar, the curtain at the courtyard entrance, the ropes, and all the equipment related to their use. (NLT)

And further down…

31 These four clans were responsible for the care of the Ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the various articles used in the sanctuary, the inner curtain, and all the equipment related to their use. 32 Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, was the chief administrator over all the Levites, with special responsibility for the oversight of the sanctuary. (NLT)

Finally…

35 They were assigned the area north of the Tabernacle for their camp. The leader of the Merarite clans was Zuriel son of Abihail.36 These two clans were responsible for the care of the frames supporting the Tabernacle, the crossbars, the pillars, the bases, and all the equipment related to their use. (NLT)

Don’t miss this…not only were the Levite clans as a whole assigned these tasks, but God assigned leaders for each clan to oversee the performance of these holy duties. Sounds a lot like a Facility Managers role. Re-read vs. 32 –  Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, was the chief administrator over all the Levites, with special responsibility for the oversight of the sanctuary. Not only did the clans have overseers, there was a Chief Administrator (NIV = Chief Leader, KJV = Chief over the Chief of Levites). What ever translation or version you want to reference, the point is obvious, someone needed to be in charge of the overall well being of the sanctuary…and that position was an elevated position in the eyes of God and the nation of Israel.   This role was important enough that God personally set the ground rules for it and assigned the person he thought was best to address it. He did not instruct Moses to select slaves or the foreigners living with them…no…he picked the cream of the crop! The son of the High Priest was hand selected to be “the man”.

Think about this, where in the scripture does it give such vivid instruction and place such honor on a role in the church, for…say…the youth pastor?  Singles pastor? Small Groups Pastor?  Just saying…

I can hear it now…”but Tim, those are ministers of  the gospel.  They are referenced all throughout scripture. You are taking this out of context.  The ‘church’ is the people and not the meeting place.”  I can hear yet others saying, “But we are not under the law like Moses and Aaron.” And for much of these arguments, I would agree.  I would never place the importance of people’s souls, lives and relationships above the designing, building or caring for ANY facility…never do it. I would never want to forgo the gift of God’s grace for a set of rules. But, to use an old adage, have we become so heavenly minded that we are of no earthly good? Have we so elevated other roles and functions in the church that the role  of those who have been entrusted to steward what God have give us is at the bottom of the org chart in our churches?  Are they the “redheaded step child” of the church staff (see a previous BLOG I wrote on this subject)?

Think about it…what are your thoughts?

Tags: Christian life, church, church building, church construction, facilities management, facility management, Facility Stewardship, leadership, Visioneering