There is a story of...
Illustration
There is a story of a proud woodpecker who was pecking away at an old, dead tree when the sky blackened, the lightning flashed, and the thunder began to roll. Undaunted, he went right on working. Suddenly a large bolt of lightning struck the tree on which he perched, splintering it into a multitude of pieces. Startled, but unhurt, the haughty bird flew away announcing to his feathered friends, "Hey, everyone, look what I did!"
This proud, deluded woodpecker reminds us of some people who in pride brag about their own achievements and fail to recognize that all their ability comes from God. Without him they can do nothing.
In the spiritual realm, all that was necessary for salvation was accomplished by the holy life, atoning death, and victorious resurrection of Christ. So also in the temporal realm, full credit belongs to him from whom all earthly blessings come --daily bread and everything else. No flesh should therefore glory in his presence, but rather this: "He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord." (1 Corinthians 1:31) "Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king ... for better it is that it be said unto thee, come up hither." (Proverbs 25:6-7)
This proud, deluded woodpecker reminds us of some people who in pride brag about their own achievements and fail to recognize that all their ability comes from God. Without him they can do nothing.
In the spiritual realm, all that was necessary for salvation was accomplished by the holy life, atoning death, and victorious resurrection of Christ. So also in the temporal realm, full credit belongs to him from whom all earthly blessings come --daily bread and everything else. No flesh should therefore glory in his presence, but rather this: "He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord." (1 Corinthians 1:31) "Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king ... for better it is that it be said unto thee, come up hither." (Proverbs 25:6-7)
