The Portion of the Priesthood of Believers

This is to answer the request for more on the topic of God being our portion.  God bless, and have a nice day.

The Old Testament is a type of what was to come after Jesus’ death. When the New Testament was put into place, the disciples began unraveling the symbolism and parallels of what took place in the past, and what was now present. One of the startling parallels was that the believer became a member of the priesthood (1 Pet 1:5).


The Levitical priests were God’s intercessors and mediators for the people of Israel. They had no inheritance amongst the tribes whom they ministered to, for God was their portion. He made provision for his priests by designating the land they could live within the boarders of each tribe (see Numbers 35), and by having them set food aside from the offerings sacrificed in the temple (see Numbers 18). The priest was God’s servant and He made provision for him.

The portion for priests was different from the rest of the people. This corresponds to our portion from the Lord being different from the rest of the world. Those in the world are looking for the substance of their lives to come from their own efforts. They strive to better themselves so that they can have more and live an easier life. Though the priesthood of believers often work to provide for themselves and their families, the gain from work and any position they have is not used for their own benefit, but is for the Lord’s Kingdom. In this sense, the believer is God’s servant. Because the worldly take advantage of God’s goodness and blessings and use them for their own pleasure, they make God their servant.

The Apostle John addresses the temptation of the world in his first Epistle. We read that “everything in the world --- the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does --- comes not from the Father but from the world.” (1 Jn 2:16) Those who want gain from the world obtain it, and maintain it, by first craving for it, then lusting and going after it, and then bragging about it to impress their greatness upon those around them. John goes on to write that “the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the viewpoint of the world and the world listens to them.” (1 Jn 4:4-5)

God’s portion for the priesthood of believers is different because the goal for priests is markedly different from those in the world. The worldly listen to and act like each other. They admire those who are prosperous and famous. God’s servants listen to and act like God, honoring and emulating those with heroic faith. The worldly cannot represent God; the believers can.

God’s purposes for His people determines their portion. Though individually our lives are each unique, there is a common thread amongst us; we cannot serve the world and serve the Lord also. The world will pollute our hearts with cravings for gain and position and turn us away from serving the Lord. And this becomes a cross unto our flesh, carried through each believer’s life; laying down worldly gain and position for God’s purposes, yes, His portion, in our lives.

One day we can say, as Paul, that we are content in whatever we have (Phil 4:11-13). David said that the Lord satisfied Him (see Psalm 63). God does not slight His priests, for His portion is good and lasts forever. It is we, His believers, that choose to become His servants, trusting that the portion He gives us is more than enough. Amen.