“Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength!” – 1 Chronicles 16:28

The sinful heart of man loves to take credit for that which can only be accomplished by God. Our ego is susceptible to the praises of man and loves to receive the “ata boys” from well-meaning observers.  We adore to think God elected us to administer his will because we are just a little special. It is dangerous to imagine for a moment any good which comes from our ministry originates anywhere except the will of God.

Adoration and veneration by peers, or those we serve, should be redirected to God. The disciple of Christ can no more take credit for successful ministry, than a hammer can accept praise due the carpenter. When we accept acclaim for our work we are dangerously close to idolatry. Heidelberg Catechism Question 95 says, “Idolatry is, instead of, or besides that one true God, who has manifested himself in his word, to contrive, or have any other object, in which men place their trust.” Our job as ministers of the gospel is to redirect, to God, any praise heaped on us.

Servants of the Lord go into the world to seek greater and more frequent praise for Christ. Andrew Harper said, “But all the world also are to praise Him as the only true and almighty God, and all peoples do homage to Him with sacrificial gifts; and that His kingdom may be acknowledged among the heathen, even inanimate nature will rejoice at His coming to judgment.”[1] Praise is only good, when it is directed at its true source.

As the laborers of Christ are privileged enough to see success in their work, they must always turn every eye heavenward in appreciation for God’s grace and mercy. Our self-worth is only truly fed by the Lord. We must always teach our fellow sinners to not thank the hands which dispensed the blessings, but the author of the mercy himself.

[1] Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch, Commentary on the Old Testament, vol. 3 (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1996), 513.