July 8 | Ecclesiastes 9:7-10

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DAILY READING

Ecclesiastes 9:7-10

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REFLECTION

Work, the Red-Letter Word

By Pam Mann

In the readings this week, we ask the question: Is work a four-letter word?

When we read this passage from Ecclesiastes, it seems that the answer to that question doesn’t matter. Why even ask it? “Vanity of vanities!” warns the Preacher in Ecclesiastes 1:2, “All is vanity!”

Bible scholars warn us that Ecclesiastes is a puzzling book. This may comfort you if you were puzzled while reading this Ecclesiastes 9 passage. The zinger has to be verse 9 as it goes on about “this meaningless life” and “all your meaningless days.”  As believers in Christ, our days are quite the opposite of meaningless. Our lives have purpose.

I grew up with the RSV which says “vain” for what the NIV translates as “meaningless.” Without Christ, work is in vain. Don’t we find this truth also in Psalm 127:1?  “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.”

We know folks who do not know God as Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer of life. Often such folks find work to be in vain and life to be meaningless. By contrast, those raised with a strong Protestant work ethic know well the phrase: Work hard to please God. I am such an individual, raised by parents who experienced the Great Depression as children. From this profound experience, they learned and taught me that work and the ability to do work are life-giving opportunities, to be embraced with thanksgiving. As young adults, my parents endured World War II. My dad survived four years of military service when many of his buddies perished. He learned and taught me that living in a free nation where I choose my work is a privilege ensured by the death of others.

I know that the Preacher in Ecclesiastes 9 is not describing my life, but the life of someone who does not know Christ. I know this not only because of my upbringing but also because of the book’s conclusion in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14.

Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.

Now all has been heard, the Preacher explains as he concludes his book. He has presented multiple views on life’s meaning and here, at last, he gets to the bottom line. Fear God. Keep his commandments.

When we trust God to guide us through each workday, even monotonous work has its significance. Back to our original question: Is work a four-letter word? Not for the Christ follower. For the believer, who is walking with Jesus, work is a red-letter word, marked by the blood of the Lamb.

PRAYER

Thank you, Father, for the ability to work, for the freedom to choose our work, and for the opportunity to experience Your presence in our work.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

PAM MANN

I first joined UALC when my husband (then my fiancé) and I were college students involved in youth ministry. God has used UALC to nurture our family’s faith, even in our years outside the U.S. I’ve participated in UALC ministries with kids, art, prayer, exercise, ESL, and Bible teaching. I do all the fun church things.

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July 7 | Psalm 145

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DAILY READING

Psalm 145

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REFLECTION

All People, Every Living Thing

By Dave Mann

The Psalms (and all of the 66 books of the Bible) not only give us the truth of the message of God, but they also are works of literature, particularly when understood in the original languages.  For example, Psalm 145 is an acrostic poem.  That is to say, the first letter of each verse uses the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.  It is impossible to show this in a translation, but most study Bibles will make the reader aware of the acrostic structure in a footnote.

Verses 15-16 reveal the central message of this psalm.

The eyes of all look to you,    

and you give them their food at the proper time. 

You open your hand    

and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

I remember from childhood that my grandfather recited Psalm 145:15-16 as the table grace to begin each meal.

Some would say that this psalm is an overstatement of reality.  Note the use of all and every.  Note and underline the repetition of superlative words, particularly the word all, in verses 9, 10, 12-18, and 20 – “all look to you, every living thing.” Is that even possible?  Yes, when God’s will is accomplished.

God wants to bless all people.  Yes, he chose one people group, the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as his own, but the purpose of selecting one people was to use them to bless the whole world.  When God’s will is fully accomplished, all people will know that God is good, and they will live in an intimate relationship with him. 

Part of that blessing is God’s willingness to give people the freedom to search for and to welcome his gifts.  What are those gifts he wants to give us?

• Physical blessings

• Provision for the true needs of life

• Answers to prayer

• The privilege of praising God

• Most importantly, God gives us HIMSELF.

When we receive from God the answers to our prayers in this life, we have a provisional fulfillment of Psalm 145.  Also, in the Lord’s Prayer, we ask for Psalm 145 to be manifested in our life -- “Thy kingdom come.  Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”  In Revelation 22:1-5, we anticipate the full completion of God’s will, not only in this life but also in the age to come.

May our future be such that we experience the fullness of God’s will in our lives, not just in part, not just as an appetizer, but as the full banquet of the goodness of God.

PRAYER

Almighty God, I pray that you would make real in my life the fullness of your will. May I see that you want all people to come to know you in a complete and personal way, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

DAVE MANN

I am a Pastor for Internationals (retired) in the UALC community. I am married to Pam, father of four, and grandfather of six. Pam and I have lived twenty of our years in other countries including France, Cameroon, Haiti, and Morocco. In retirement, we continue to enjoy writing devotionals, learning languages, and teaching English to internationals.

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July 1 | 2 Samuel 6:1-15

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DAILY READING

2 Samuel 6:1-15

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REFLECTION

Back to Basics

By Pam Mann

This is a disturbing passage. Why does God’s anger burn against Uzzah, the guy who reaches out to keep the ark of the covenant from falling off the ox cart? Is he supposed to let it fall? No. The ark is never meant to be on an ox cart in the first place. The Law is clear that the ark is only to be transported on rods held by Levite priests. This way the ark is not subject to stumbling oxen, is it?

Now, we have another question. Why does David ignore the clear command of the Lord? If you look in the previous passage, there David is carefully listening to God for guidance on any military campaign. So, how then does King David make this misstep which proves fatal to Uzzah? David has gathered 30,000 to attend the entrance of the ark into Jerusalem. He has organized the best band in the land to celebrate in full style. And yet David neglects to heed key instruction on moving the ark!

Here's another issue. Possibly Abinadab, Uzzah’s father, is a Levite, and this is why the ark is stored at his house. (See 1 Sam. 7:1.) Why does a Levite then not remind the king of the clear instruction of the Law? It’s a mystery. But, as a result of the presumption of folks who should know better, we now have an account which highlights God’s holiness. Bottom line: Don’t mess with God.

God is the holy Lord Almighty whom we serve. His laws are not suggestions. His help is not for those who presume they know best. Even if in the past, God’s servants knew and honored God, that past relationship is not a present permission to presume His blessing in whatever they do now.

God is looking for humble people who keep coming to Him. My granny would say that David

just got too big for his britches. 2 Samuel doesn’t tell what David or Uzzah are thinking, but God’s harshness indicates that He knows their misguided motivations. If we learn from Uzzah’s story, we won’t be like my pothos plant that starts out with a thin stem and small leaves. When the vining plant is well watered, fertilized, and well support in its growth, the new leaves can grow several times larger than the original leaves near the soil. Likewise, the stem grows much thicker than its humble beginning near the soil. It ends up with heavy thin growth that still has only a tiny connection to its roots. Perhaps in this matter, David is like my pothos plant, forgetting to return to the Lord and recall His commands. As the keeper of the pothos plant, I can bring the thick, large-leafed extremity of the vine back to its pot. Next to each leaf, there is a node which I can pin to the soil surface. From that node, now returned to its origin, new roots will form.

PRAYER

Lord, let us learn from Uzzah’s death to honor You as holy. Keep us returning to You, the source of life. Let us live ever mindful to the basics of our relationship in You.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

PAM MANN

I first joined UALC when my husband (then my fiancé) and I were college students involved in youth ministry. God has used UALC to nurture our family’s faith, even in our years outside the U.S. I’ve participated in UALC ministries with kids, art, prayer, exercise, ESL, and Bible teaching. I do all the fun church things.

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