A Charge To Keep I Have
“This is it that belongeth unto the Levites: from twenty and five years old and upward they shall go in to wait upon the service of the tabernacle of the congregation: And from the age of fifty years they shall cease waiting upon the service thereof, and shall serve no more: But shall minister with their brethren in the tabernacle of the congregation, to keep the charge, and shall do no service. Thus shalt thou do unto the Levites touching their charge.” Numbers 8:24-26
As I was reading this morning, the above passage caught my attention – I guess because of the ages mentioned concerning the Levites. At age 25, they were to begin serving in the tabernacle. But, at age 50, their time of service concerning the tabernacle would cease. BUT…their time of ministry did not end. Rather, they were to continue ministering with their brethren.
As we age (and all of us will, unless God calls us home), our desire should not be to “retire” from serving God. I’ve heard it said, we should not “retire” as we get older but rather “reFIRE”. I thank the Lord for those who are older in the Lord that have been an encouragement to me – not just in their words but by their example. If they had had the mindset of retiring, I (as well as many others I’m sure), would have been deprived of their encouragement to continue on…to KEEP THE CHARGE of the Lord.
Those of us who are in that older age bracket now…let’s not allow Satan to tempt us to just sit back and let the younger generation serve. Yes, as we get older there will be limitations to what we can do. But as long as the Lord allows us, let’s determine to be faithful – to keep the charge – until He calls us home. Amen!
I was looking up the phrase “keep the charge” and came across the following hymn written by Charles Wesley in 1762. Mr. Wesley was born in 1707 which means that he was 55 when he wrote these words. That just happens to be the age I will turn in a few months, Lord willing. Now, isn’t that a blessing that God would let me see that this morning?
A charge to keep I have,
A God to glorify,
A never-dying soul to save,
And fit it for the sky.
To serve the present age,
My calling to fulfill:
O may it all my powers engage
To do my Master’s will!
Arm me with jealous care,
As in Thy sight to live;
And O Thy servant, Lord, prepare
A strict account to give!
Help me to watch and pray,
And on Thyself rely,
Assured, if I my trust betray,
I shall for ever die.
(Charles Wesley)