The Sin that Turned Angels into Demons: And How to Protect Yourself From It
by Tim Zello
Chapter 12
Discern, Disarm, and Destroy
Arrogantly Crediting Oneself for Accomplishments
Our human nature not only wants us to receive credit for our accomplishments but it also wants to receive credit for work that others have done. And Satan especially loves it when we seek to receive credit for things that God has done.
Motivated by the desire for money, approval, affirmation, or advancement, some people claim that the sacrifice and good works of others are their own. I have personally witnessed this with an orphanage and another ministry involved in rescuing women from the sex industry. In the case of the orphanage, four different organizations were raising funds by claiming that the orphanage was theirs, when in fact, it belonged to none of them. The ministry involved in rescuing women had two organizations claiming the work as theirs when it was not. Sadly, it is money that drives both the sex industry and those who misrepresent themselves and their ministry. They are equally guilty of exploitation.
Perhaps they justify themselves by reasoning, "If we give some of the money we are raising to the ministry actually doing the work then it is all right to call it ours and present it under our organizational name.” Or perhaps they justify their actions in order to raise funds from sources that do not desire to spread the good news about Jesus. Regardless of the intent, the end does not justify the means. Taking credit for the ministry of others is spiritual rape and an abomination to the truthfulness of God.
We must carefully protect our ministry and our vision from being prostituted by these profiteering “pimps.” We must not sell God's work to the highest bidder. Keep your heart and vision pure. Only allow God to receive the credit and no other.
God told Saul to completely destroy the Amalekite nation for opposing Israel when they came out of Egypt (1 Samuel 15). He instructed Saul to destroy everything. Instead, Saul brought back the best sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the Lord. When Samuel heard this he asked Saul, “What is more pleasing to the Lord, your burnt offerings and sacrifices (which had really belonged to someone else) or your obedience to his voice? Obedience is far better than sacrifice.” Proverbs 20:7 says, “the godly walk with integrity.” In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul admonishes for us not to claim credit for the work someone else has done (10:15).
Peter teaches, “God has given gifts to each of you from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Manage them well so that God's generosity can flow through you. Are you called to be a speaker? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Are you called to help others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then God will be given glory in everything through Jesus Christ. All glory and power belong to him forever and ever. Amen” (I Peter 4:10-11).
One of the greatest modern day examples of humility is American football Hall of Fame coach Joe Gibbs, who has won three Super Bowls. After every football game Joe Gibbs holds a press conference.
Whenever his team wins, reporters try to credit coach Gibbs for the victory but he always tributes their success to the players and his coaching staff. Whenever his team loses, the same reporters try to fault the players and his coaching staff but Coach Gibbs always takes the blame himself.
Coach Gibbs once said, “Like anyone else, I wanted to be happy and successful, and that was the path I had been on my whole life. I took the long road but discovered that what I was looking for was not something to be pursued. Success and happiness were by-products of a life given over to God. It seems I had to learn that lesson more than once, and in many ways I'm still learning it.”[i]
King Herod’s life came to a tragic end. His failure was that he took credit for his accomplishments. Herod did not “give glory to God,” and he was struck dead by an angel of the Lord (Acts 12:21-23).*
In contrast to King Herod, once the Apostle Paul healed a man with crippled feet who had never walked before. Barnabas was with him. When ungodly people saw what Paul had done they said, “These people are gods with human bodies.” Then they prepared a sacrifice for them.
“But when Barnabas and Paul heard what was happening, they tore their clothing in dismay and ran out among the people, shouting, ‘Friends, why are you doing this? We are merely human beings like yourselves!
We have come to bring you the Good News that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them…’” (Acts 14:8-20). They gave glory to God and, immediately afterwards, Paul was miraculously saved from a near death experience.
Jesus said, “On judgment day many will tell me, ‘Lord, Lord, we prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, 'I never knew you. Go away; the things you did were unauthorized’” (Matthew 7:22-23).
The type of person Jesus is speaking about is someone who has the formula and appearance of success but not the character and humility that is acceptable to Him.
Saying, “Lord didn’t I do this or Lord didn’t I do that” is like making a finger painting and holding it up to Michelangelo, one of the greatest artist who every lived, and saying, Look at the beautiful painting I made!
God is not concerned about our abilities or accomplishments. He is not concerned with our status in society or level of education. His only concern is the condition of our heart which is revealed by the extent his love is flowing in and through us in serving others.
“The person who wishes to boast should boast only of what the Lord has done." When people boast about themselves, it doesn't count for much. But when the Lord commends someone, that's different!” (2 Corinthians 10:17-11:1).
The mark of true humility is when nothing is expected, asked, hoped for, or demanded in return for acts of service. The greatest and most difficult act of humility is voluntarily taking the blame and suffering the consequences of someone else’s mistakes.
By recognizing God and crediting others when praise comes our way we can discern, disarm, and destroy pride.
Read Chapter 13: Discern, Disarm, and Destroy
Loving Titles, Rewards, Position, Recognition, and Compensation
[i] Source obtained from the Internet at http://www.powertochange.ie/changed/jgibbs.html (accessed on December 3, 2006)