At once an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give the glory to God, and he became infected with worms and died. – Acts 12:23
Oh, the danger of denying God His glory!
Herod, the arrogant leader of Judea, took something that rightfully belonged to God … His praise and singular claim to divinity. When the crowd elevated the ruler beyond humanity, Herod went along for the ride. And while the king might have been allowed to persecute the Church (to fulfill God’s divine purpose), he would never get away with stealing God’s glory.
We read this story from this side of the Cross and probably think, “What an idiot!” Yet, are we not sometimes guilty of the same offense? Have we ever allowed our church, ministry, or … dare I say … ourselves to take credit for the spiritual (or physical) success we have enjoyed? While we may not become infected with worms and die, perhaps we could see our work (or efforts) crumble/erode/dissolve and ultimately perish.
Boasting is dangerous. So is silence in the face of undeserved praise. Give God HIS glory. He alone deserves it.
When boasting ends, there dignity begins. – Owen D. Young
