Monday, April 1, 2019 -
Today I compared the Psalm of Thanksgiving by King David (I Chronicles 16) and the Song of Moses (Deuteronomy 32 and the Blessing of Moses (Deuteronomy 33). I’ve also been reading several Psalms each night before sleeping.
David and Moses could have easily taken much credit for the amazing things done to defeat the vast armies they had to deal with. So could have Joshua (Joshua 23). But they all gave God complete credit for the amazing feats done under their leadership. These men of God took absolutely no credit!
There is a lesson here for all of us. We must give God the credit for everything good that happens in our lives. Each and every victory and blessing, small and large, is God’s doing.
And so we must live, in complete submission to Him. Far too often we in the West get very comfortable in our own abilities, our reasonable wealth and amazing blessings, and fail to give God all the glory and praise for each and every good thing. In fact, all things we possess belong to Him, for we are but stewards, and He holds us accountable for how we utilize what He entrusts to us to further His kingdom (see Luke 19:11-27). As a matter of fact, when we work to acquire wealth, it should be done because we seek to provide a greater return for the Master, and not for our own benefit. This is why Paul warns, “For godliness actually is a means of great gain, when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. And if we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. But those who want to get rich, fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith, and pierced themselves by many a pang. But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness (I Timothy 6:6-11). This is why Agur in Proverbs 30: 8-9 says, “Keep deception and lies far from me, give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is my portion, lest I be full and deny You, and say, ’Who is the Lord?’ Or lest I be in want and steal, and profane the name of my God.” David in his prayer acknowledged in I Chronicles 29:14, “For all things come from you, and from your hand we have given you.”