Psalm 115 "Not to Us"

Psalm for Today = 115:1-3

¹ Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory,

    for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!

² Why should the nations say,

    “Where is their God?”

³ Our God is in the heavens;

    he does all that he pleases.

Comments:

I read these words but have to wonder how much I really believe this. Do we want God to be glorified? Sure, what Christian wouldn’t agree with that? But the part where I wonder how honest we are is the first part of verse 1 which says, “Not to us, O Lord, not to us”. 

I think that we all have a very strong glory desire. 

At some level, it is natural for us to want to be noticed, thanked, appreciated, and recognized for what we do or who we are. 

There is truth in the saying, “It is amazing how much you can get done as long as you don’t care who gets the credit.” Why is this? Because people are more willing to help you if it helps them. But are we really satisfied to get no credit? We can rest assured that God remembers what we have done and will reward us for it…so we don’t have to get bent out of shape when people don’t notice. I need the reminder in Colossians 3:23-24, 

"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 

                                 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance 

          as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ."

This psalm is also a significant comparison between the power and effectiveness of the Lord God as opposed to the impotent idols. Verse 3 says he does what he pleases…and we can be thankful that he "pleases" to be a help and a shield to his people!