When King David set up gatekeepers or security guards to maintain order in the temple of the Lord, he chose them from the family of Korah belonging to the tribe of Levi. We read in 1 Chronicles 26:13 that they were assigned for guard duty at the various gates of the temple, whether small or great, by casting sacred lots. Here “small” and “great” have been rendered as their ages, training, skills or the prominence by various Bible translations. Whatever the real meaning is, to serve as a security guard at the temple depends on not a person’s seniority, ability, talent, or intelligence, but on the sacred lots, the will of God.

Likewise it is true of serving in the church of God. Many Christians thought that they could bring their worldly wisdom and fame and skills to the church. They assume that the kingdom of God is like the kingdom of the world which they can manipulate so as to build their own kingdom. It is obvious however that the kingdom of God is “decided by means of sacred lots;” “it is he who gave some to be apostles, . . ., to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be build up” (Ephesians 4:11-12).

The head of the church is Christ himself, not the pastor, nor any one of the elders, nor a successful brother or sister in the world. Anyone who wants to serve must be submitted to Christ who always has the final say.