1 Mar, 2011

Giving Credit

When the Academy Awards come around every year, you can bet that millions of people are tuning in to see what people are wearing, who they are with, oh, and of course who goes home holding the prestigious Oscars.  The “red carpet” segment before the show is always interesting to me as reporters and actors interact and speculate on who will win.  One particular interview caught my attention on Sunday night.  Mark Wahlberg was being interviewed by ABC’s Robin Roberts, and as she spewed kind words of praise for his participation in his successful film, he turned the focus back on her.  He mentioned a time earlier in the year when the two of them talked about the film, and he recalled how she was the one to make the call that this movie was so well done that it would surely be nominated for multiple awards.  She was right, and he remembered, and he gave her credit for that call.  To paraphrase, he essentially said, “A lot of people like to take credit, but I’d rather give credit where it’s due, and you deserve that credit.”

Isaiah 42:8

“I am the LORD; that is my name!
   I will not give my glory to another
   or my praise to idols.”

What does God’s Story scripture teach us about giving credit?

Scripture teaches us that God is the giver of life and all created things.  He is the only one who truly deserves credit for all things good.  When we believe we are in control of our own lives, we easy fall into the mistake of giving ourselves ‘glory’ for things we have accomplished or circumstances that have come to pass.  Or perhaps we thank someone else or something else that made it happen.  Or we rely on man-made sources of knowledge or technology.  But God is clear in His Word that He alone is God, and he will not share the glory that is due only to him.

How can I connect today’s God’s Story scripture to my life?

How often do you take credit for something good that has happened in your life?  Look closely, and you will realize that God is the source of all things good.  Thank Him for what He has given you: time, opportunities, abilities, friendships, funds, or anything else that makes it possible to experience His goodness in your life.

How can I connect today’s God’s Story scripture and my story to others?

Who gave the actors their abilities?  Who gave the writers the right words?  Who gave the producers the finances to make it all happen?  When you talk to your friends about the Oscars, perhaps bringing up these questions will give you an opportunity to give credit where it’s due by giving glory to God.

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