Serving God Series

A group of retired friends met every Saturday morning at a Salt Lake City deli, but they grew tired of the same conversation each week. Sure, they were solving the world’s problems, but they wanted to share their wisdom beyond their own group. So, as a lark, six years ago (2018), they set up a card table at the nearby Salt Lake City’s farmers market and told people they were dispensing free advice. They even made a large banner: “Old Coots Giving Advice—It’s Probably Bad Advice, But It’s Free.”

To their surprise, people started showing up and sharing their problems—a lot of them! “Where can I find someone to love?” “Have I put in enough time at my new job to take a one-week vacation?” They also fielded questions about how to keep romance alive. "I always tell people that the first thing you do is put down your phone and start talking,” retiree Richard Klein said.

Each Saturday the “Old Coots” took on the issues of about 30 to 40 people who came by seeking their advice. “It’s a way for a person to get an outside opinion from somebody who has nothing to gain,” said member Tony Caputo. “Somebody told us the other day that we're the most popular attraction at the market. We always listen carefully and don't give gratuitous advice.”

“To be truthful, I’m not sure that any of us can claim to have much wisdom,” said 69-year-old John Lesnan “but it sure has been a lot of fun. “Maybe all of us coots really do have more to offer than we thought” (Cathy Free, “Self-proclaimed ‘Old Coots’ offer life advice at farmers market. Their slogan: ‘It’s Probably Bad Advice, But It’s Free,’” The Washington Post, 9-27-18; www.PreachingToday.com).

To be sure, as a follower of Christ, young or old, you have a lot to offer to a world of people in desperate need of guidance.

The Bible says, “In [Christ] we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ” (Ephesians 1:7-10).

God has lavished His grace on every believer, revealing the mystery of His will in all wisdom and insight. As a believer in Christ, you have everything you need to serve God well.

So how do you access God’s wisdom and insight to serve Him well? What do you have to do in your service to truly benefit people? What does God require of you in your ministry to Him as believer-priests? Well, if you have your Bibles, I invite you to turn with me to Exodus 30, Exodus 30, where God gives directions for the first priests.

Exodus 30:1-6 “You shall make an altar on which to burn incense; you shall make it of acacia wood. A cubit shall be its length, and a cubit its breadth. It shall be square, and two cubits shall be its height. Its horns shall be of one piece with it. You shall overlay it with pure gold, its top and around its sides and its horns. And you shall make a molding of gold around it. And you shall make two golden rings for it. Under its molding on two opposite sides of it you shall make them, and they shall be holders for poles with which to carry it. You shall make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. And you shall put it in front of the veil that is above the ark of the testimony, in front of the mercy seat that is above the testimony, where I will meet with you (ESV).

God asks Moses to make a small little altar (just 1½ feet square & 3 feet high) and place it in front of the veil, which conceals the ark of the covenant where God meets with His people. This altar is for the burning of incense, which God prescribes that the priests burn every morning and evening.

Exodus 30:7-10 And Aaron shall burn fragrant incense on it. Every morning when he dresses the lamps he shall burn it, and when Aaron sets up the lamps at twilight, he shall burn it, a regular incense offering before the LORD throughout your generations. You shall not offer unauthorized incense on it, or a burnt offering, or a grain offering, and you shall not pour a drink offering on it. Aaron shall make atonement on its horns once a year. With the blood of the sin offering of atonement he shall make atonement for it once in the year throughout your generations. It is most holy to the LORD” (ESV).

This incense altar is most holy to the Lord. It is very special and important to God, so much so that the Lord also prescribes a special recipe for the incense. Skip down to verse 34.