Giving Credit Where Due

Daniel 2:27-28

One of the Renaissance painter Michelangelo’s best-known works is entitled “The Pietà.” There is a story that once a person attributed the work to another artist, and Michelangelo overheard it. Later, one night, the famous painter returned to carve his name into the sculpture to avoid this occurring in the future. We live in a world where people want recognition, credit, and applause for various accomplishments. However, for a servant of the Lord, we should be sure to give credit where it is truly due. We find an example of this in the pages of the prophet Daniel.  

In 605 B.C., King Nebuchadnezzar laid siege to Jerusalem as part of the Lord’s judgment on the nation. Not only did Nebuchadnezzar take many items from the treasury back to Babylon, but also some of the finest of the sons of Israel. One of those was Daniel. During the second year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, the king had a dream that no one in Babylon could interpret. In his anger, the king made a decree that all the “wise men” in Babylon were to be killed. The group included Daniel and his three Jewish friends. Who will they turn to in their time of need?

“Daniel and his three friends fell under the edict because they were advisers to the king (1:20), not because they practiced divination, which, it is safe to say, they did not.”[1]

In his time of great need, Daniel prays to the One True God in whom his soul trusts. As the psalmist declares, “In my trouble I cried to the LORD, And He answered me.”[2] As a result, the Lord blessed Daniel with the interpretation of the king’s perplexing dream. Now comes the moment when Daniel’s character is really put to the test once again. Will he take credit before the great Babylonian king or give it to the Lord? In Daniel 2:27-28, we discover that before the great king, Daniel boldly and humbly gives the Lord all the glory. No mention of self, as all praise is given to the Lord.

“What a contrast to Daniel, who in reply to the king’s query, humbly and sincerely gave God all the credit.”[3]

In ministry, we can be tempted to seek recognition, credit, and applause for various accomplishments. While there is nothing wrong with another praising you (Proverbs 27:2), we should avoid the error of self-praise. Like Daniel, we should seek the Lord in our time of need. And when, not if, He answers, let us give Him all the credit. The next time the Lord works through us, may our first instinct be to say with Daniel, “There is a God in heaven…,” and give Him all the glory. The Lord delights to work through humble servants.

Blessings,

Pastor Steven

[1] Constable’s Expository Notes – Daniel, 2025 Edition.

[2] Psalm 120:1 (NASB 95).

[3] Unger’s Old Testament Bible Commentary, pg. 1615.