Acts 12:20-25

Be careful when people try to put you on a pedestal. There is only One deserving of worship, but pride often tempts us to take some of the credit for ourselves. Herod thought he was all that and a bag of chips, and the Scripture says that he was struck with illness because he accepted the people’s worship instead of giving glory to God. We just read where Peter refused to accept worship from Cornelius, and there are several accounts of angels refusing worship from the people to whom they were sent to deliver a message. As Jesus reminded the devil in Luke 4:8:

“Jesus replied, “The Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’ ””

Ambition is a tricky thing. On the one hand, it is okay to be ambitious for good, yet we must be careful not to be ambitious for self. Some find their self-worth in ambitious pursuits. The problem with that is, what happens to our self-worth if our pursuits do not pan out? Our self-worth must be found in the Lord Himself. Our concern needs to be more with what He thinks than with what the world thinks.

True humility is not denying our gifts, abilities, or accomplishments; it is recognizing where they came from. Every good thing we have is a gift from God. When we understand that, it becomes much easier to give Him the glory He deserves. The applause of people is fleeting, but the approval of God is eternal. Rather than seeking recognition for ourselves, our goal should be to point others to Christ, knowing that apart from Him we can do nothing, but through Him all things are possible.

Pride seeks the spotlight, but humility points to the One who gave us the ability to shine. Whether God entrusts us with great influence or quiet service, our responsibility remains the same: give Him the glory. When our identity is rooted in Christ rather than in accomplishments, success will not inflate us, and failure will not destroy us.