John 15:5
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
Have you ever worked diligently on a something only to have someone else take the credit for it? Irritating, isn’t it. While we get frustrated when others do that to us, I wonder how often we do the very same thing to God.
Last week my boys and I were at the beach while my husband was out of town for work. My oldest son, Dean who is six wanted help digging a trench along the shoreline. I mean, why play in the water when you can dig in the sand?!
Having to also keep tabs on my other two boys, including my 20-month old, Jude, my help was initially short lived. When my little guy eventually occupied himself in the sand I stepped up behind my oldest son, grabbed a dirty little pail and began to shovel for all I was worth.
Minutes later I had to follow Jude back into the water. When I looked up on the shoreline I realized that Dean, engrossed in his excavating, never noticed that I had been behind him plowing the trench. Keeping an eye on him, I had to laugh when his portion of digging ran into mine. He was so proud of himself thinking that he had trenched the entire ditch on his own. Of course he had to show me his amazing work and I applauded his great efforts.
Isn’t that how we are with God though? We throw ourselves into a task, or do something that we feel is praise worthy and then want to show Him how amazing we are. I have to wonder if He doesn’t look at us and also loving laugh, letting us think that we did a great job when in reality it was all Him.
John 15:5 says I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
Nothing…that is what we can do apart from God. Humbling, isn’t it?
As Philippians 2:13 says, “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.”
From the air we breathe, to the gifts and talents we have been given, it is all God.
The next time we are tempted to take credit for some great accomplishment, let’s remember Who really did the work and deserves the praise. God, it is all God, and it always will be. May we never forget that truth.
What do you need to thank God for allowing you to do today?
