Psalm 99.1-5, 1 Samuel 28.3-25, 1 Corinthians 6.1-20 - Lectionary for 8/12/11

Today's readings are Psalm 99.1-5, 1 Samuel 28.3-25, and 1 Corinthians 6.1-20.

For every one of us there comes a day of reckoning. Some of us, like Saul, have an opportunity to reflect on the way our life has been spent. In the case of Saul, his adult life was spent defending himself and protecting his interests against all others, including David.

What did Samuel tell Saul? All he had worked for would be ruined. He could not save it. The kingdom was being given, against all of Saul's efforts, to David. And it would be transferred through a catastrophic military defeat. There was nothing he could do. He was responsible for this great failure.

Whose interests are we busy defending? Do we fight for our own agenda, or will we look to the interests of others? In 1 Corinthians 6 we are called to glorify God by loving our neighbor, not protecting ourselves. May we have grace to reflect on our lives and glorify God in all things, looking to the interests of our neighbors above ourselves.