“It is God that makes us able to do all we do.” 2 Corinthians 3:5 New Century

“Success is unjustified pride until you honor God for it and serve Him with its rewards.”

My thoughts today are about “credit where credit is due.”

I have found that a person is more likely to claim “I did it!” when there is a success, than when there is a mess. It seems everyone is ready to take the credit for anything that turns out well. Maybe too ready. Is that the reason people can be a little too slow to share the credit with others who contributed significantly to their effort and its result? There is a familiar expression that is good to keep in mind, “Credit to whom credit is due.”

Someone cleverly observed that if you ever see a turtle on top of a fence pole, you can rest assured he didn’t get there all by himself. When you are eager to gratefully recognize the invaluable help you have been given to get where you are today, you are ready for even greater success. How does that relate to everyday life? Let me aask you this: have you given God His rightful place in you life – the place He deserves?

Here’s the real truth. Anything good that comes your way has come with God’s fingerprints all over it, whether you noticed that or not. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father . .” James 1:17 NIV. Your success is only unjustified pride until you honor God for your accomplishments and serve Him with its rewards. There should be a sense of Godly fear to presume the credit that God alone deserves for the good that you enjoy. “Our only power and success come from God!” 2 Corinthians 3:5 NLT. Can this principle be any clearer? When you truly give God all the glory, your lifestyle will sincerely reflect humility and profound gratitude and generosity.

The Bible says, “Give to everyone what you owe . . if respect then (give) respect, if honor then (give) honor.” Romans 13:7 NIV. Surely, if that is the common courtesy that you owe others, you and I must owe such clear testimony of God for His manifold blessings and grace. Paul had it right when he wrote, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:19 NKJV.

My prayer for you today is that you never fail to honor God with what He gives you.