Give Credit Where Credit is Due

"About twelve months later, I was walking on the flat roof of my royal palace and admiring the beautiful city of Babylon, when these things started happening to me. I was saying to myself, " Just look at this wonderful capital city that I have built by my own power and for my own glory!" But before I could finish speaking, a voice from heaven interrupted: 'King Nebuchadnezzar, this kingdom is no longer yours.' "    (Daniel 4: 28-31, Contemporary English Version)

A year prior to this event, Daniel interpreted a dream that King Nebuchadnezzar had about a large tree.  The tree represented the king, but it was going to be torn down with only a stump remaining.  The impending result would be that the king would lose all his power, due to his pride, and for seven years,  live in insanity like a cow in the pasture.  After that time, God would bring restoration.  

Talk about giving someone a lesson in humility!  God brought Nebuchadnezzar to his knees, but not before he had to live this degrading lifestyle.  The king had a year, after the dream, for which to repent and heed God's warning, but he refused.  Nebuchadnezzar wanted to dwell on those things that he thought he could take credit for.  "I have built; MY own power; MY own glory!"  It was all about him---no credit given to God.

We must be careful in not giving ourselves too much credit for the things we have in our own lives.  We can tell ourselves that we earned this wonderful career as a result of OUR college education and OUR ability to succeed in the marketplace.  But, without God's help along the way, we would not have been allowed to enjoy those blessings.  Or, some may brag that they have this fancy car, luxurious house with fine furnishings, wearing name-brand clothing---all as a result of THEIR hard work. 

As Christians, God is involved in all areas of our lives.  He gives us the ability to achieve and succeed.  He opens doors of opportunities---don't take them for granted.  Give God credit for all that He has done in your life.  Otherwise, you, too, may find yourself stripped of all that you hold dear and living in a state of temporary "madness".