Day 129: Uncomfortable Truths About Our Expectations

Today we read 1 Kings 11, Ecclesiastes 9-12, and Psalm 9. We end the story of Solomon with clarity on how his obedience was not complete and his disobedience, although warnings were given against the accumulation of horses, wealth, and wives, Solomon allowed his wives who worshiped over gods to turn his heart from the one and only God, the God above all others. Ugh. This will lead to the Isrealite kingdom being divided. We also read about our potential divine disconnection in Ecclesiastes regarding how we view our relationship to God. Do we believe we invite him to be a part of our world and then have expectations for how he will make us happy, remove all suffering, and give us prosperity here and now? Or, do we recognize that God invited us to be a part of His world and while the things of this world are Hevel or vapor, meaning they are real and we experience them, they are not something we can take with our hand and control. Gifts are to be used and appreciated with gratitude, but there is also a mission at hand, a plan, a role God has for us to remember, obey, be and become a kingdom of priests, to represent Him in community and creation. This is where the meaning of life is found, not in the inviting God, but in the accepting of His invitation to be in relationship and be a part of His kingdom and story, forever.  Resources: Dr. Tim Mackie (2018). Hevel, The Divine Disconnection/Ecclesiastes. Tim Mackie Archives. YouTube.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0wWB8YEDiA  Credits: Podcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.