DAILY READING
REFLECTION
Acclaim and Accomplishment!
by Pr. Dave Mann
We live in a culture of instant broadcast of celebration following a great accomplishment. It could be a military triumph, a political win, in sports, or another venue. But let’s look at collegiate football since the season has just begun. Most, not all, of those who make a sensational play demonstrate their joy with a thump of the chest or by taking a posture of strength and dominance. Their gestures communicate the message, “Look at what I just did. Aren’t I great?” A few others will point to the heavens or kneel briefly in gratitude to God.
In 1 Chronicles 29, King David and all of Israel had just completed a major capital campaign to raise funds and building materials for the Lord’s temple that Solomon was to build. What was amassed was far greater than they had dared imagine. It was given abundantly, and it was given willingly, not with coercion, but rather wholeheartedly.
Most importantly, King David was not thumping his own chest. He was not drawing attention to his own leadership ability. He drew attention to the kingdom of God – “Yours is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.” (v.11)
He was not proclaiming the growing reputation and hegemony of the nation of Israel. Rather, he pointed to the Lord. He acclaimed “the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor” of the Lord. (v. 11)
Even the growing piles of donations did not cause the king’s heart to gloat that he had such a great bottom line. He acknowledged that even though the riches had most recently been in the hands of his subjects, it all came originally and ultimately from the hand of God himself. "Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand." (v. 14)
David’s heart, guided by the Holy Spirit, saw that there was only one Great One – not the leadership team, not the nation of Israel, not himself. “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this?” (v. 15) The obvious answer to this question points to the Lord himself.
What have you, your church, your nation been able to accomplish in this life? To whom ought you accord acclaim for having allowed you the privilege of participating in that event, whether it be great or modest? To whom does the acclaim for the accomplishment belong?
PRAYER
Lord God Almighty, I acknowledge that all good gifts come down from the Father of Lights. I have nothing that did not come originally from your hand. I thank you, Lord, that what you allow me to accomplish in this life is really a privilege and a grace, because it is YOU who have given the resources, the ability, and the strength to do it in the first place. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Comments