Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due

Have you ever heard that expression? Normally the phrase is used to raise an awareness of a contribution or act performed by someone who praises were yet unsung.  Most everyone wants to know they have value and are favored by others.  In a world that is dominated by “bad news”, the acknowledgement and even glamorizing of the evil that prevails, to hear of good things is rare.  Micah 6:8 asks this rhetorical question and then provides the answer. 

(Micah 6:8) “What does the Lord require of you, O man. But to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”  So, walking humbly is what I am addressing this morning.  It is OK that people recognize your achievements, your character, your acts of kindness.  As Christians, we are to walk humbly.  To walk humbly means to live with an awareness that God is the source of all good things.  If you have any ability, it is because God formed you that way.  You may nurture that ability and apply it, but its source is God.  (Ephesians 2:10) “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Now and again, people may want to recognize you for your good works.  The natural world has no spiritual discernment, so they see acts of kindness as being the same.  To give God the credit.  To give Him the glory. Well, “isn’t that special!” As a matter of fact it is.  To give God the credit when you are praised is not false humility.  It is the real deal.  (Psalm 96:3) “Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.” 

We have the amazing opportunity to see God at work.  People may marvel at the work done, but without spiritual eyes, they will not have understanding that God is at work.  It will seem like an amazing coincidence.  Or perhaps that act of an amazing person.  When in fact it is because of an amazing God.  

The bottom line on the bottom line is this.  Be careful that you don’t rob God of His glory. Give all glory to Him.  Johann Sebastian Bach, George Frideric Handel and Christoph Graupner would signify that the work was produced for the sake of praising God with “Soli Deo Gloria”. That should be at the heart of every act – everything we do. 

That is one of the 5 Solas of the Reformation.  

Sola Scriptura  - “Scripture Alone” : The Bible alone is our highest authority.

Sola Fide - “Faith Alone” : We are saved through faith alone in Jesus Christ.

Sola Gratia - “Grace Alone” :  We are saved by the grace of God alone.

Solus Christus – “Christ Alone : Jesus Christ alone is our Lord, Savior, and King.

Soli Deo Gloria – “To the Glory of God Alone”) : We live for the glory of God alone.

CHARLEY