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I Samuel 30:24

3/21/2014

‘For the share of the one who goes down into the battle shall be the same as the share of the one who stays by the baggage; they shall share alike.’

We have an abundance of “stuff” in our home. After 26 years of living in the same house and raising our three children, the accumulation is sometimes overwhelming. I tend towards relieving ourselves of some of this burden and my husband tends toward retaining much of this. (It might be useful some day). Our large walk up attic which provides a place for this stuff doesn’t help.

I try to be mindful of the fact that God is the source of all that we have. I am also aware that I have been blessed to be born into a life with privilege and not a life with hardship and fear. Even though times in my life I have experienced discrimination because of my gender, I have been able to earn for myself an education that gives me the ability to succeed. These blessings and the spiritual gifts that God has bestowed upon me enable me to earn a living for myself and my family. Therefore, all that I have earned has come from God. Therefore, all that I have bought with what I have earned has come from God.

I don’t think this means that God wants me to accumulate a bunch of “stuff”. The decisions we make about how to spend the money we earn is our response to God’s grace and blessings in our lives. As David pointed out the spoils came from the Lord, they are not ours to keep or refuse to share. Our sharingis a response to the abundance in our lives that has come from God. It has been said that if you really want to see if your actions reflect your words, take a look at your calendar and your checkbook. Do your time and your money go toward where you say your values lie? Our calendars and checkbooks are our personal statements of discipleship.

My response to God’s grace and blessings compels me to follow Jesus. Yes, some of the stuff we have accumulated will come in handy some day. But in these recent years we have endeavored to be more intentional with less accumulation and more sharing of the spoils.

Gracious God, we know that the earth is yours and everything in it; the world and all who live in it. Stir up our hearts to share our spoils with everyone and to see how this response spreads your grace throughout the world. Amen

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II Samuel 6:1-23

3/19/2014

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David has finally brought the Ark of the Lord to Jerusalem! He is overcome and filled with JOY! There was shouting and trumpets and burnt offerings and offerings of well-being before the Lord. David danced before the Lord with all his might.

What a feeling, to be in a moment when we are in such a right relationship with God that we are filled with the need to dance in the street. David was driven with such a desire to show praise and glory to God that he couldn’t have restrained himself even if he had wanted to.

Life is a merry-go-round of ups and downs. But through it all we are in relationship with Jesus. It is the daily tending to this relationship that enables us to feel God’s presence during the complicated times and the joyous times.

We know that even King David had difficult times in his life. Sometimes these low points are due to situations outside of his control, but often due to his own choices and decisions. Throughout these times David turns to God. Sometimes it is with the help of Samuel.

We often need the help of others to keep us tuned into God and accountable for our actions. Our Lenten daily practices of praying and bible reading help to keep our focus where it belongs. People are often quick to turn to God during stressful and hard times. God can comfort us in our grief and loneliness. But God is also there in our joyful experiences. I have heard the prayer “God, let me prove that winning the lottery won’t spoil me.” But if we won the lottery (or any wonderful experience - getting that job or dating that person or a shared time with family and friends) do we immediately give the thanks and praise to God?

I pray that we take a cue from David and dance before the Lord with all our might whenever we feel His blessings.

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I Samuel 30:24

II Samuel 6:1-23

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