Giving Credit / 荣耀归主
Dexu Xia
Giving Credit
Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:31
In the early 1960s, some unusual paintings featuring a person or animal with huge, sad eyes became popular. Some considered the work “kitschy”—or tacky—but others delighted in it. As the artist’s husband began to promote his wife’s creations, the couple grew quite prosperous. But the artist’s signature—Margaret Keane—didn’t appear on her work. Instead, Margaret’s husband presented his wife’s work as his own. Margaret fearfully remained silent about the fraud for twenty years until the couple’s marriage ended. It took a courtroom “paint-off” between them to prove the true artist’s identity.
The man’s deception was clearly wrong, but even as followers of Jesus, we may find it easy to take credit for talents we possess, leadership skills we display, or even for our kind deeds to others. But those qualities are possible only because of God’s grace. In Jeremiah 9, we find the prophet lamenting the lack of humility and the unrepentant hearts of the people. He wrote that the Lord says we shouldn’t boast of our wisdom, our strength, or our riches, but only that we might understand and know that He is the Lord “who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth” (v. 24).
Our hearts fill with gratitude as we realize the identity of the true Artist. “Every good and perfect gift is . . . from the Father” (James 1:17). All of the credit, all of the praise belongs to the Giver of good gifts.
Today's Reflection Dear Father, thank You for all the good gifts You so graciously give.
荣耀归主
夸口的，当指着主夸口。-哥林多前书1章31节
在1960年代初期，有一位画家以悲伤大眼睛儿童或动物的奇特画作，在美国掀起风潮。有些人认为这些画作肤浅庸俗，但也有人爱不释手。起初，这名画家玛格丽特•基恩（Margaret Keane）的画作透过丈夫的推销而广受欢迎，夫妻俩逐渐富裕。但玛格丽特的签名却不曾出现在画作上，而她丈夫谎称这些都是出于自己的手笔。对于丈夫的剽窃行为，玛格丽特恐惧隐忍了二十年，直到他们结束婚姻。最后，他们在法院当庭作画，玛格丽特才证明了自己是真正的创作者。
她丈夫的剽窃行为无疑是大错特错，但我们身为耶稣的跟随者似乎也很容易将功劳揽在自己身上。比如说我们的各种才华、领导能力，或助人的热心，这些我们所拥有的特质都是上帝所赐。在耶利米书9章，先知哀叹百姓缺乏谦卑和悔改的心。他也提到，上帝说我们不该夸耀自己的智慧、力量或财富，而是应以认识上帝为夸耀，知道这位上帝“在世上施行慈爱、公平和公义”（24节）。
当我们认识这位创造者的真实身分，便会满怀感激。雅各书1章17节说：“各样美善的恩赐和各样全备的赏赐都是从上头来的，从众光之父那里降下来的。”因此，所有的功劳和所有的赞美，都当归于那赐下各种美善恩赐的上帝。
天父，感谢祢如此慷慨地给予我们各种美善的恩赐。
我们受造是为了将荣耀归主