JULY 9 | 1 Chronicles 29:10-18

Beth Voltmann
Jul 8
2 min read

DAILY READING

1 Chronicles 29:10-18

REFLECTION

Yours, LORD

By Beth Voltmann

“Praise be to you, LORD, the God of our father Israel,

from everlasting to everlasting.

Yours, LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory

and the majesty and the splendor,

for everything in heaven and earth is yours.

Yours, LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.”

(1 Chronicles 29:10-11)

This life is a blessing from God – including the work that we are given to do. Granted, after the fall, the work given was accompanied with the promise of sweat and tears, but that doesn’t negate the gift. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17)

So often in life, we tend to focus on our own achievements, to take pride in what we have endured, accomplished, saved and built. Instead of thanking the Father for what he has lavished on us, we complain about how rough our road has been, how steep the climb is, and how difficult we believe the days ahead will be.

Recently, I heard this keen insight from a radio host: “It’s not important whether the glass is half-full or half-empty, but that the glass can always be re-filled!” God’s goodness and faithfulness is always being poured out to us. All that we have and all that we do comes from the Lord. There is such joy in using it for his glory instead of hoarding it for ourselves. Let’s celebrate that.

Those who are carefully guarding all they have earned or spending it purely on their own happiness will never experience the deep abiding joy that comes from giving from what God has given. Perhaps I’m dating myself, but I remember using the Good News Translation in my high school youth group years. I appreciate the way it paraphrases King David’s words from this passage of scripture:

“Yet my people and I cannot really give you anything,

because everything is a gift from you,

and we have only given back what is yours already.”

(1 Chron. 29:14)

The Lord gives...we give back...our hearts are filled with joy.

Now that’s something worth praising!

“For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.” (Rom 11:36)

PRAYER

Lord, thank you for all that you have given to your people. It is with great joy that we serve you, the Giver, by giving back as we have opportunity. May our desires and thoughts always be directed for your glory and praise. It’s all yours, Lord! Amen.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

BETH VOLTMANN

After moving to Ohio in 1997 with my husband and four children, I developed a hunger for God’s Word through adult teaching and women’s Bible study at UALC. My passion is to help others understand Scripture so that they may grow in their desire for more of God and experience the new life offered to us through Christ Jesus.