Taking credit for an achievement is a tricky thing. I know people who think that if they announce the accomplishment, they will get credit for it. They don't actually say this, but their actions point to it. They mark "achieved" on their objectives. It seems bizarre, but sometimes people think if they were on the sidelines shouting, "go for it!" that they have single handedly achieved the entire goal. Others seem reluctant to take credit for the hard work, as if not admitting they worked their butts off means they don't have humility.
How do you know if you're in the center of the "credit is due" continuum? Answer this question: does God think you are amazing? If you automatically answered "no", you might need to move from the "no credit belongs to me side" closer to the center. If you answered "yes", you're not the right track. This might seem counter intuitive since the guy I know who takes credit for projects while doing nothing is a Christian. But if I were to wager, I'd guess he probably doesn't believe God thinks he's amazing. I would guess he is struggling to feel adequate at all.
God made each of us "fearfully and wonderfully" (Psalm 129:14), which basically means we are individual marvels, unlike anyone else in the universe. It also means we each carry a unique set of abilities and gifts. When we are doing what the Lord made us to do, we will excel in that activity.
But there will always be new places He wants to take us; places where we need practice to excel and we are uncomfortable with the new activity. If we temporarily do not shine bright in the eyes of humanity because we are growing, we should not despair.
If you truly do know that the Lord sees you as amazing, you also know that you can never DO anything to be amazing. You are His finished work and you cannot earn your way into amazing. You can only prove it out for those around you that do not see Him rightly just yet. To Him be the glory and honor and praise... and the credit for making you amazing.
How do you know if you're in the center of the "credit is due" continuum? Answer this question: does God think you are amazing? If you automatically answered "no", you might need to move from the "no credit belongs to me side" closer to the center. If you answered "yes", you're not the right track. This might seem counter intuitive since the guy I know who takes credit for projects while doing nothing is a Christian. But if I were to wager, I'd guess he probably doesn't believe God thinks he's amazing. I would guess he is struggling to feel adequate at all.
God made each of us "fearfully and wonderfully" (Psalm 129:14), which basically means we are individual marvels, unlike anyone else in the universe. It also means we each carry a unique set of abilities and gifts. When we are doing what the Lord made us to do, we will excel in that activity.
But there will always be new places He wants to take us; places where we need practice to excel and we are uncomfortable with the new activity. If we temporarily do not shine bright in the eyes of humanity because we are growing, we should not despair.
If you truly do know that the Lord sees you as amazing, you also know that you can never DO anything to be amazing. You are His finished work and you cannot earn your way into amazing. You can only prove it out for those around you that do not see Him rightly just yet. To Him be the glory and honor and praise... and the credit for making you amazing.
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