You’ve heard this phrase before, haven’t you? “It’s not all about you!” We usually hear it when we’ve become selfish or have stopped thinking about the needs of other people around us. It often takes a good friend or our spouse to utter those words to us!

Well, there is actually a lot of wisdom in those five words. And when it comes to spiritual matters, it’s never all about you. It’s never all about me. As sons and daughters in God’s family, it’s all about God, not us.

Until You Know…

We have to constantly remember that but for the grace of God we are nothing. The skills, talents and abilities we have are to be used to glorify God, not ourselves. Over the millennia, there have been numerous stories recorded of men and women who took too much upon themselves—leaving God out of the picture.

You will remember the famous story of Nebuchadnezzar, who was reduced to the life of an animal after uttering these infamous words: “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?” (Daniel 4:30 emphasis added throughout). After pronouncing these words Nebuchadnezzar was told by God: “Your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field…until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses” (verse 32).

Don’t Get the “Big Head”

It’s not just kings who can get “the big head.” We too must always be watchful that we don’t take the glory for ourselves. The glory must go to God. This is true on an individual level, as well as for the whole body of God’s Church. The successes we may have in preaching the gospel of God’s Kingdom are to accomplish His will and are for His glory. It is not of ourselves.

The apostle Paul reminded the Corinthian brethren about this very thing: “But ‘he who glories, let him glory in the Lord.’ For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends” (2 Corinthians 10:17-18). We must be very careful to give the honor and glory to God in all we do, not for our own benefit.

Acts chapter 12 recounts the untimely death of Herod Agrippa after he agrees with the gathered crowd that he is “of a god, not of a man!” (Acts 12:22). Immediately “an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died” (Acts 12:23).

Let us be reminded to always give the honor and glory to God—who sustains our life—that our very existence (let alone our accomplishments), are to be used for His honor and glory. After all, it’s not all about you and me.