ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

 SAPATE ME 3, 2026

1 KALONIKALI 15-17; 2 KOLINITO 10:13-1

It is important to resist taking credit for what you never could have accomplished or produced on your own.

‘Oku mahu’inga ke ke faka’ehi’ehi mei he polepole ‘i ha ngaue na’e ‘ikai mei lava ‘i ha’o feinga tokotaha pe.

A spiritual leader's downfall can begin when he starts to take credit for what is actually the result of God's grace, faithfulness, and power. In this way, success in ministry can be far more dangerous than failure. Success has the power to change the way you think about yourself, who you are, and what you are able to do. Success has the power to make you self-congratulatory and seemingly self-sufficient. Success can steal away your daily worship and devotional life, as you begin to think of yourself as more capable than you actually are. You become less aware of God's presence and less mindful of his grace. Success has the power to make ministry seem like your show rather than God's work. It can cause you to think that your success is God's endorsement of your character, rather than a revelation of his own. Success can close you off from those whom God has sent to advise and confront you. Success can cause you to treat fellow workers as servants for your success, rather than acknowledging them as servants of God. But, most significantly, success can turn you into a glory thief, attempting to steal the spiritual limelight that rightfully belongs to your Savior King.

First Chronicles 16:8-36 records one of the Old Testament's most exuberant, humble, worshipful, and God-glorifying hymns of praise. With great rejoicing, the ark of the covenant of the Lord has been brought to the City of David and, as the crescendo of the celebration, David appoints Asaph and his brothers to sing this great hymn of praise. David has been hugely successful in battle, unified Israel, became a powerful reigning king, and brought the ark of the covenant back to Jerusalem. But David's heart isn't filled with his own glory. He doesn't want people to celebrate all that he has done. He knows that all he has accomplished is the result of the presence, power, grace, and covenant faithfulness of the Lord. David knows he is not the hero of his own story - the Lord is.

I am particularly taken by the final words of this hymn. They are a prayer:

Save us, O God of our salvation,

and gather and deliver us from among the nations,

that we may give thanks to your holy name,

and glory in your praise.

Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,

from everlasting to everlasting! (1 Chron. 16:35-36)

"Save us, that we may glory in your praise." May this be your prayer and mine today. May we pray for relief from our trials and temptations not just so we would experience personal comfort, but so our lives would glorify God and lead others to do the same. May he give us the grace to glory in his glory and not our own.