Not To Us

Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.

Psalm 115:1 NIV

 

 

As a Christian this may be an easy verse to read, and easy to believe.  You may have been taught from a young age the importance of humility, of giving God all the credit for what happens.  You might even teach this verse to other people, and remind them of the need to give the glory to God, because of who He is, and who we are not.  You can talk the talk, but can you walk the walk with this verse?

 

You may have experienced this challenge firsthand when you have worked or been part of a project or event.  When things go really well, you may get all the credit (even if you had little to do with the success), and if something goes wrong or fail you get all the blame (even if you had little to do with the struggles).  It’s easy to say give God the glory, until someone tries to give you all the glory, and it feels good.  You might even feel like you deserve it, you worked hard, you put in the hours, you used your skills in an impressive manner.

 

Inversely, it is easy to say let’s give God all the glory, until you are moved from the front of the group to the background.  When your passion, your project, your department moves from the limelight into the background for the good of the greater whole.  It’s in those moments of pure joy, and frustrations that we have to cling to this verse, “Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.”

 

Pastor Bill

 

 

Discussion Questions

  1. What is one place in life that you struggle to live out this verse?
  2. Read the rest of Psalm 115, and all the reminders to the reader of exactly why God is who gets all the glory.  What reactions do you have to this Psalm?
  3. How is one way that you can remind yourself of this verse each day?