1 Chronicles 13:8-12 And David and all Israel played before God with all their might, and with singing, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with cymbals, and with trumpets. And when they came unto the threshingfloor of Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzza, and he smote him, because he put his hand to the ark: and there he died before God. And David was displeased, because the Lord had made a breach upon Uzza: wherefore that place is called Perezuzza to this day. And David was afraid of God that day, saying, How shall I bring the ark of God home to me?

I remember this telling whenever I see a brother speak about our God with irreverence. The example set before me is that God does not need me to defend Him.

The oxen that stumbled is the man that was irreverent. If I reach out to defend God I act like Uzza. It is not my place to react out of disgust or disappointment. God is fully capable of defending Himself. This is not the enemy, this man is in our midst, a brother in the Lord. As much as it bothered me I have to remember this man belongs to the Lord.

Uzza’s act was human instinct. It was emotional, not spiritual. It is not easy to restrain emotions but when we are in the presence of the body of Christ, how we react speaks more harm to the rest of the body than this man’s irreverence. People need to be reassured that I will not jump down their throats for a slight or a mistake. The bond of peace in fellowship is my first responsibility.

If the Lord needs me to do anything further, it will come in my quiet time, not when I am upset.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

If you spend enough time fighting another man’s demons, they become your own.

Another way of looking at that is in service to others do not neglect your own needs.

Perhaps the better confession is that God doesn’t need my help. I need His.

God asks for our consideration and cooperation but not our help. That battle has already been won and I have not been careful enough in my service to remember that. I’ve been forgetful.

Will any of this help you? I don’t know and I really shouldn’t care if I trust God. My understanding is not going to change anything. God does.

Is God changing me? I hope so. Am I paying enough attention to what He is doing in me? Probably not.

I believe I trust God but do the words of my mouth and the actions of my hands reflect that? Are my feet planted in the Way? If I don’t look down now and then, should I be surprised to find out I’ve taken a misstep?

Attending to my own salvation is just as important as attending to that of others. I’ve been forgetful.

I thirst.