MAY 13, Psalm 89:11

“Oh, Max! You’re always bragging about your good grades,” complained Kai. He stuck his nose in the air and mimicked his brother. “I got an A in this! I, and I alone, got 100 in that. I’m so smart!”

“Well, I am the smartest kid in my class,” boasted Max.

“Boys, that’s enough!” said Dad sternly. Then, taking out his wallet, he removed some bills. “What do you think of this, Max?” he asked.

Max’s eyes opened wide. “Wow! A fifty-dollar bill! And a hundred!”

“Yes,” said Dad with a nod. “Remember the watch Brother Jeffrey asked us to sell for him when he moved to study overseas? Well, I sold it this morning, and the man paid me in cash. This should come in handy, don’t you think?”

“Yeah, but… you’re not going to spend it, are you?” wondered Max.

“Why not?” asked Dad. “The man gave it to me.”

“But it’s not yours,” said Kai. “It belongs to Brother Jeffrey, doesn’t it?”

“Yeah, Dad. The watch belonged to him,” said Max, “so if you keep the money, you’ll be stealing, won’t you?”

Dad smiled. “You’re right. I would be stealing,” he agreed. “The buyer handed the money to me, but he was really paying Brother Jeffrey. I’m just the go-between. Like you, Max.”

“Like me?” asked Max. “What do you mean?”

“What I mean is that all the abilities and talents you have, great or small, come from God,” replied Dad. “He’s letting you use them, but they really belong to Him. Sometimes people will compliment you on them, but you’re just the go-between. God loaned you those abilities so that you could use them to glorify Him, not yourself.”

Max looked embarrassed. “So… you’re saying I shouldn’t be proud of being smart, right?”

“Right,” said Dad. “Thank God for the talents He gave you. When someone gives you a compliment, just remember it really should go to God.”

“Okay, Dad,” said Max. “I’ll try to remember. I don’t want to steal from God!”

Thought: Are you good at schoolwork, or sports, or music? Remember that all your talents are from the Lord!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the reminder today that all I have is from You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.