Give God the Credit, Always

The great Bible names are famous for not taking credit. To make that argument, consider first those who sought to make a name for themselves:

Samson fought his own battles instead of the Lord's. 

Saul won a battle and built himself a monument in his own name. 

Simon the magician offered money for the Holy Spirit's power to be important. 

The super apostles in Paul's letters used the church for glorification. 

And of course, the Babylonian city in Revelation is cast down in her pride. 

Daniel is among those men who did great exploits and refused to take credit. When Nebuchadnezzar's dream needed interpreting, Daniel gave all the credit to God. 

Daniel 2:26–28 (ESV) The king declared to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to make known to me the dream that I have seen and its interpretation?” 27 Daniel answered the king and said, “No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or astrologers can show to the king the mystery that the king has asked, 28 but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. 

I believe giving God glory for what He gives you to do is the greatest gift that comes right back to you. For Daniel is given the outline of history before it happens as he interprets Nebuchadnezzar's dream. Scholars are aghast at the accuracy of Daniel's words detailing the rise and fall of successive empires, the split in the Greek Empire, the conglomeration of Rome, and of course, the rise of Christ's kingdom from the time of the Roman empire. 

Daniel 2:44–45 (ESV) And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever, 45 just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. A great God has made known to the king what shall be after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure.”

Do not miss what happens. As Daniel glorifies God through his ministry to Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel receives the revelation of Christ's Kingdom and the fulfillment of history. In other words, he got more in return than he gave. Not only that, but he received great honor and accolades from Nebuchadnezzar. 

Daniel 2:48 (ESV) Then the king gave Daniel high honors and many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon.

Not only that, but Daniel is further positioned to elevate his friends. 

Daniel 2:49 (ESV) Daniel made a request of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon. But Daniel remained at the king’s court.

We are made to give God glory. When we do, it always works out to bless us in the process. Not that we deserve it. It's not earned. God's grace reveals His goodness through servants who simply understand why they are here. They are here for His purposes. 

Now, every Christian has a choice: seek glory or give glory to God. Those who humble themselves before the Lord and the world will see God go to work and achieve wonders through them, and they will be blessed in their own lives as a result. 

James 4:10 (ESV) Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

1 Peter 5:6 (ESV) Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you

Luke 18:14 (ESV) I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

You cannot go wrong when you glorify God.