What do making the winning play and acing a test have in common? Praise. America has grown accustomed to living by a system of rewards and punishments; obviously everyone strives for the reward. In this situation, that is self-praise. We look for that satisfaction from others, hoping to be recognized for some great action or achievement. However, the thing people forget is where their ability to do those things comes from. The answer; God. All we have is not a product of our own doing; rather it is a gift from Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:4 says “who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” Just like comfort, Jesus shows us love, endurance through suffering, patience, etc. with the intention that we as believers will extend all those qualities to others.
We know how to love because Jesus loved us; we know how to endure because Jesus endured suffering for us; we know how to stay determined because Jesus never gave up on us. Referring to the opening statement, yes individual hard work and studying had a great deal of effect on the winning outcome, but without God giving you the ability or intelligence all the hard work in the world would not have been enough. So rather than bragging to your friends about how great you are at this or that, step back and give God the glory. If you brought a friend to church don’t say “I persuaded my friend to hear about Jesus.” No, God used you to help soften that person’s heart; He worked through you to let that person hear about Him. We are not meant to be originators of praise. On the contrary, we are the messengers; God’s middlemen if you will. He shows us how to live and how to handle situations so that we can pass that on to everyone around us. “But, ‘Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.’ For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.” 2 Corinthians 10: 17-18.
So what hinders us from being a messenger? Pride. Pride has become so common and expected that most people don’t even realize when they are being prideful. It is blind and causes us to take the credit for accomplishments when in reality we never would have succeeded without the help of God. In our quest for approval from our peers and superiors we lose all self-sacrificing nature and become entangled in pride. We think to ME be the glory; which could not be further from the truth. God and God alone, deserves the credit.
Let go of that pride, be the messenger, pass on all that you have received, and give God all the glory and praise for your life.
