How can we ensure our victories glorify God rather than ourselves? Setting the Scene “ ‘When Samson had finished speaking, he cast the jawbone from his hand; and he called that place Ramath-lehi.’ ” (Judges 15:17) Samson has just slain a thousand Philistines with a donkey’s jawbone. Instead of building an altar or voicing praise, he names the place after his own weapon—literally, “Jawbone Hill.” The spotlight lands squarely on Samson’s feat rather than on the Lord who empowered him. Why Self-Glory Creeps In • Victories feel tangible; the God who enables them is unseen. • People applaud results—strength, strategy, skill—feeding ego. • Unchecked emotion after a struggle makes self-promotion seem natural. Scriptural Warnings Against Taking the Credit • Deuteronomy 8:17-18—“You may say in your heart, ‘My power and the strength of my hands have made this wealth for me.’ But remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you the power to gain wealth.” • Judges 7:2—God shrinks Gideon’s army “lest Israel boast against Me, saying, ‘My own hand has delivered me.’ ” • Psalm 115:1—“Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to Your name be the glory, because of Your loving devotion, because of Your faithfulness.” • 1 Corinthians 10:31—“Whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.” Principles for Redirecting Praise 1. Acknowledge the Source • Out loud and immediately, confess that strength, wisdom, and opportunity come from the Lord. • David did this before Goliath: “The battle belongs to the LORD” (1 Samuel 17:47). 2. Name the Place After God, Not the Tool • Instead of commemorating the jawbone, Samson could have commemorated the Lord’s deliverance. • When God moves, label the milestone with His character—“The LORD Provides,” “The LORD Heals,” “The LORD Saves.” 3. Use Victories as Platforms for Testimony • Tell the story so that God’s power is the hero and you are the servant. • Paul modeled this: “By the grace of God I am what I am” (1 Corinthians 15:10). 4. Return Firstfruits of Success • Time, resources, recognition—hand them back through worship, giving, and service. • Proverbs 3:9—“Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your harvest.” Practical Habits That Keep God in the Spotlight • Write victory journals titled with God’s attributes, not your achievements. • Quote Scripture aloud during celebrations—anchoring emotions to truth. • Invite accountability: friends who will ask, “Where did you see God in this?” • Invest a portion of every win—bonus, promotion, breakthrough—into Kingdom work. • Sing doxology (privately or corporately) before any self-congratulatory posts go live. Victories That Become Witnesses When God is openly honored: • Observers see the linkage between divine power and human accomplishment. • Future trials find you already trained to depend on Him. • God’s name spreads, just as the early church’s healings led many to faith (Acts 4:21). Celebrate every Ramath-lehi moment, but rename it quickly—turn Jawbone Hill into God’s Hill—and the triumph will echo His glory, not yours. |
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