made heads turn when he purchased the team in 1994 for $173 million, the highest figure paid for a NFL franchise then. When his team made the Superbowl in 1997, the deep-pocketed man played down his success by telling of what his deceased father, who Robert considered the most important person in his life before he passed away more than 20 years ago, often reminded him. His father said, “Whenever you get too high on yourself, go down to the beach and look out over the vast ocean. Then, pick up a handful of sand and realize that one grain is all you are in the space of time.” USA Today 1/21/97)

Magnifying oneself is exaggerating one’s importance and contribution. It is the sign, the beginning, and the cause of one’s fall.

In the words of Charles Kettering said: "It’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice." (AND I QUOTE, Ashton Applewhite 360 NY/ST Martin’s Press/92).

Korah’s grandfather, Kohath (Num 16:1), occupied an important place in the ministry of the Lord. Kohath’s family was one of three families appointed to serve in the sanctuary. The Kohathites had the highest honor when the holiest things in the tabernacle were assigned to them. Kohath and his descendants were in charge of the holiest things in the Tent of Meeting or tabernacle (Num 4:1-3), including the ark of the covenant, the table of shew-bread (Num 4:7-8), the candlestick (Num 4:9-10), the altar of incense (Num 4:11-12) and altar of burnt-offering (Num 4:13-14) when the camp was on the move (Num 4:2-3). They were responsible for carrying the holiest vessels on poles (Num 4:15). God had promised that they would never to be cut off from the Levites even when service was poor (Num 4:17), but forbade them to touch the holy things (Num 4:15). Looking at the holy things, even for a moment, would mean death for the Kohathites (Num 4:20).

The sons of Korah, however, wanted and demanded more, but Moses reminded them what they had was plenty still. They were more privileged than most – they were descended from a storied family, charged with the holiest things, and teamed with Aaron and Moses. They had it as good as it could get. The sons of Korah were first among equal families, clans, and priests. They were among the select group of 2,750 Kohathites chosen to serve in the tabernacle (Num 4:34-36), yet they were entertaining thoughts and coveting things and tasks that were entrusted to others.

The less privileged could only look up at the sons of Korah, gushed in their presence, and pined for an opportunity to safeguard the most holy things, to keep Moses and Aaron company, and to serve God up-close and personal. Sadly, the sons of Korah did not value the magnitude of their ministry, the uniqueness of their presence, and the contribution to people’s lives. When they coveted the priesthood of Aaron (Num 16:11), they treated their service as trivial, God’s selection as flawed, and people’s gifts as superior.

The outcome of fleshly service is naked ambition, deep overtones, and bad blood. Martin Luther said, “You cannot milk a cow without the love of God.”

MOTIVATE PEOPLE HONESTLY AND DO NOT MISLEAD OTHERS
12 Then Moses summoned Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab. But they said, "We will not come! 13 Isn’t it enough that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the desert? And now you also want to