The ungodly attitude of many folks today, is the desire to usurp the glory that belongs only to God. Ever since he was created, man has always strutted and taken honor that should have been given to the Creator (cf. Genesis 11:1-4; Acts 12:20-23).Men boast about many things, i.e., what they will wear. But Jesus tells us, “So why do you worry about clothing? (Matthew 6:28). They boast about what they will do tomorrow, when the Proverb writer warns us, “Do not boast about tomorrow, For you do not know what a day may bring forth” (Proverbs 27:1).
And it isn’t uncommon to hear men boast of their financial strength. They speak about “my farms” — “my oil wells” — “my stocks” — but the Lord says, “Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool” (Isaiah 66:1). The Lord owns it all (Psalm 50:9-12; cf. Job 41:11).
When men are prone to boast about their material gains and savings, they need to read of the rich man in Luke 12 who built bigger barns and said, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry” (Luke 12:19). The Lord told him, “You fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?” (Luke 12:20). This foolish man boasted in things over which he was not a good steward.
As God’s people, we need to remember that we are but frail creatures here on a small sphere called earth. And as such, we are as "grasshoppers" before the Almighty (Isaiah 40:22). Beloved, in whatever way we use our God-given talents, regardless of how large our success, let us never be tempted to feel our own muscles and exclaim, “My, look at how strong I am” — “for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).
Therefore, let us use our God-given abilities to render glory to whom glory is due, “To the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever. Amen.” (Romans 16:27 NASB).
—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets
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