Today’s devotion builds on the thoughts from Sunday’s Sermon – Week 4 of the Lord’s Prayer Series “Give Us Today Our Daily Bread” (LISTEN HERE).
Who gets the credit?
He gave you manna to eat in the desert, something your fathers had never known, to humble and to test you so that in the end it might go well with you. 17 You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” 18 But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today. (Deuteronomy 8:16-18)
Rugged individualism.
Self-made person.
American dream.
These “American” phrases speak to the ability of the individual to put their mind to their work and accomplish anything they set out to do and take advantage of the opportunities our country provides.
To be sure, there is nothing wrong with hard work, challenging goals, and the earning of wealth unless…the wrong person gets the credit.
We like to take credit. After all, we get up early, stay up late, and put in the hours. When the paycheck comes, the promotion is received, or the bonus given we can “take it to the bank” and then buy the needs and wants we have.
What a good job WE have done.
Celebrating hard work and accomplishment is not sinful, but make sure the right person gets the credit.
The people of Israel ate manna and quail EVERY DAY for 40 years (14,600 days!). I’m sure this was difficult, but Moses reminds the people before he transitions leadership to Joshua, that God did it to “humble and to test you.”
God did not want sinful pride to root in the hearts of his people. He knew that sinful pride would rely on self and push out God. Sinful pride would take credit for the things for which God deserved the credit.
When Moses spoke these words, the people of Israel were about to enter the land of Canaan which was “flowing with milk and honey.” The temptation when they settled was to say, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.”
The wrong person would get the credit…ME.
As the crops came up, the paychecks were received, and their net worth increased, the Lord through Moses told them, “But remember the LORD your God, for it is HE who gives you the ability to produce wealth.”
God gets the credit…NOT me.
What happens to your day when you drive to work and thank God for the work HE has given to you? When you drive home, what changes when you thank God for the work HE gave you abilities to do? When you see your paycheck deposited in the bank, what thoughts change when you recall that GOD has given you that income? What happens when you unpack the groceries and your remember that GOD has produced this food for you to eat?
You remember GOD is faithful to his promise to provide daily bread…every day.
You avoid sinful pride and give credit to the one who deserves it…the LORD.
Apply: Go through your day today and pause to give credit to God for everything you have an are able to do.
Prayer: Lord God, thank you for curbing my pride by reminding me that ALL I have and ALL I am able to do are gifts and abilities which you have given to me. Help me to use all of them to your glory! Amen.