Impression is important. To be precise, the impression you give about yourselves to others.
It’s one thing we say people can exaggerate or belittle themselves, but it’s way more difficult to give a fair assessment of yourself. Just this week, I’ve had responses about my work from 3 people. The three pieces of work are completely independent of each other, which mean they give an impression about a bit of me, in 3 ways. The one I thought they would say I had missed the point (so to speak) turned out most encouraging – not so much in the form of encouraging words but more that my ideas were accepted. As in actions speak louder than words. They did compliment me but that’s almost beside the point.
The second person’s response to my second piece of work seems unconnected to my work. I’m sure my intuition is wrong. Sometimes you do expect people to link in with what is in my work, as a way to engage more.
- So there’s a bit of unconnectedness. An impression from me about the person’s work, based on his reading of the impression of myself in my work for him.
Firstfruit is the first complete product that we have put lots of effort into – since our life depends on it – and for a long time we have hoped for good harvest.
The third person’s response to my third piece of work is much more involved, raising questions of content, ideas, etc. It means more work for me to do in the same way as the second piece of work. You feel there’s an engagement.
- Although the way forward is as “unknown” as the second piece of work, the impression they give you in their response to you gives a sense of assurance that the journey so far is ok, or at least is not fundamentally wrong, on the wrong track, or I am barking up the wrong tree.
In all three pieces of work, my own views and experience are important, without which the pieces have no meaning. They won’t exist. You can think of them as projects where I am project manager or having an important role in it.
There is a tendency to exaggerate or in some other ways make your points much more important than they could ever be, so that you gain more “cloud”, status, recognition. Or you could play down your achievements.
What’s fascinating is the “puffing up” and “sweet smelling” methods that were banned in the earlier part of Leviticus 2:4-5, 11 became accepted in 2:12. What’s going on? All very confusing!?
At the very least, we can’t say that yeast and honey are banned in the Old Testament sacrificial worship. What Leviticus 2:12 says is about offering firstfruits to the Lord, and for this purpose the text does not say you cannot use yeast or honey (nor does it say you must of either or both).
Further, it says not to offer the firstfruits on the altar for burning for the pleasing odour.
- They are simply left on the altar. Other verses suggest that these were intended for the priest to eat.
- Yes, the text says to bring these items to the Lord, as in intended for the priest.
As in previous blogs in this series, we need to remind ourselves that this way of worship, this way of sacrifice, is no longer valid because Jesus has completed God’s requirement for sacrifice. As recorded in the New Testament, Jesus has restored the holy relationship between us and God. So, no Christian does this kind of sacrifices today.
The firstfruits is our first harvest. It’s the first complete product that we have put lots of effort into (our life depends on it) and for a long time we have hoped for good harvest. I don’t think there’s much magic about this, but the point is that we ought to recognise the produce we got, from the effort we put in, was possible because God made it happened. Or the wonder of creation, including ourselves and intelligence therein.
In fact, the three people who had response to my work were doing that the first time they saw any of my work. To a limited extent the work is my ‘firstfruits’ to them. Although from my point of view, they are not my own firstfruits.
So far I can tell, I did not “puff up” or apply “sweet words” in my work to attract (more) praising words from them. How ‘good’ my work is in the greater scheme of thing I will know in a few weeks / months.
Leviticus 2:12 does not say you shall use yeast and / or honey, or you shall not use them. At least, it means you “can”. They are not banned or forbidden. Your consideration then how you apply them.
There are plenty of things you can consider as your ingredients for worship, from your skills and talents, to how you minister to the congregation to prepare them to worship, to choice of instruments and music, and to how musical worship links and integrates to other parts of worship (i.e. liturgy).
Embellishment you do need, on music and words. How you judge what to use and when, it’s your decision. A key principle is that you are bringing your best to God, and some of you play a leadership role so that the congregation bring their best to God.
