I didn’t like group projects in school, because one person would do most of the work while those who did little took the credit. When a group of people work on something it’s hard to give credit where credit is due.
In Genesis chapter 14, you find Abram making sure to give credit where credit is due.
In this chapter, a band of marauders has swept through the land taking anything they can get their hands on…including people. When Abram finds out these marauders have kidnapped his nephew and family, he mobilizes his men and they pursue the marauders; defeating them and reclaiming all they had taken.
On his return, Abram is met by the King of Sodom and the King/Priest of Salem. Abram shows his gratitude to God by giving the priest one-tenth of all he had reclaimed.
Then, the King of Sodom tells Abram he can keep the rest of the bounty for himself. But Abram refuses to take anything except what his men had already eaten because Abram didn’t want people to see how blessed he was and give the King of Sodom credit for it. Abram wanted to make sure God got the credit for all He had done for Abram.
Giving God the credit He’s due is a good practice. James 1:17 tells us that every good gift ultimately comes from God. Yes, we may work hard for what we have, but even then it is God who gives us the ability to earn what we earn. Deut. 8:18.
Think about it. When people look at your life, do they assume the good things in your life are the result of your hard work or do you make it clear those good things come from God? Are you giving credit where credit is due?
Bret Legg is the Teaching and Counseling Pastor at Warren Baptist Church in Augusta, GA.