May 28, 2010

Do you ever compare your accomplishments to those of others?
Deuteronomy 8:6-20 (NIV)

“the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land--a land . . .with springs flowing in the valleys and hills; a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, .. . . . . . When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you.

Be careful that . . . . . when you eat and are satisfied . .. . . your heart will not become proud . . . .

You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me." But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, . . . “ Deuteronomy 8:6-20

Pastor’s Blog

If I’ve heard it once, I’ve heard it a thousand times, “I don’t care who gets the credit as long as God gets the glory”. The problem with that is that when I hear it said it sounds “tinny”, almost like the person saying he is taking credit for not taking credit. It sounds too much like comparison to me. . . . .as if to say, ”I’m not like everyone else who brags, I’m humble!”

The first verse above makes it clear to me that the Lord is the author of the story we’re in. The part I play was given to, not chosen by, me. And everything that goes with that part was also written into story by the author. It’s all gift. God has written he beauty of southern Chester county into my part of God’s Story. I am really, really grateful for that.

Where I go wrong is forgetting this. The moment I become proud of a thought I’ve had, a physical achievement, a problem solved, something new created . . . . . . . it is then that I must remember where whatever abilities I have came from.

Actually it kind of ridiculous, isn’t it, to be proud of looks, intelligence, abilities, or personality. Each of us has what we have because of powers outside of ourselves. We have nothing to do with it. It’s like being proud of being tall. Nothing wrong with accepting who I am, but how crazy it is to take credit for something I have absolutely nothing to do with. That’s nuts.

I think today’s passage is a really good one. If I can “get it” into my heart mind and soul that all credit goes to God, then maybe I can live out a genuine attitude that gives God the glory without having to tell everyone.

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