Who wears the britches?

“As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.  If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God.  If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”                  1 Peter 4:10-11 (emphasis added is mine)

“Because you have relied on the king of Syria, and have not relied on the Lord your God, therefore the army of the king of Syria has escaped from your hand.  Were the Ethiopians and the Lubim not a huge army with very many chariots and horsemen?  Yet, because you relied on the Lord, He delivered them into your hand.  For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.” 2 Chronicles 16:7-9a  

Did your mom ever tell you as a child that you were acting too big for your britches?  Mine did (a few times in fact), and what she meant was I was acting more grown up than what I actually was.  I was thinking I was the boss instead of her.  I think this is what these scriptures are about…getting too big for our britches.  

When we begin to rely on our own strength, take pride in our own talents and become comfortable in our roles we have a tendency to become too big for our britches.  We come to place our trust in our own resourcefulness and think we are clever and begin to take glory away from God and place it on ourselves saying: 

“Look what I did!” 

“Did you see how moved the people were by my words?” 

“Man, that was hard work. Good thing I’m so athletic.”  

“I sing wonderful otherwise I wouldn’t have a solo.” 

“That was a tough situation, I handled it well.”  

And on and on it can go, it’s almost like we are saying, “God you sure are lucky to have me on your team.”  

We can get so wrapped up in doing good that we forget who is to get the glory; we forget the reason behind doing the good in the first place.  At times like these God reminds us who wears the britches,   that we in fact need Him WAY more than He needs us.  

He gives us the ability to do everything and it is to Him we must give glory.  

That is not saying we cannot take pride in a job well done, it means we do not become prideful.  It means we do not forget to give thanks to the one who made it all possible.  It is by His strength and through His gifts that we accomplish all things and we mustn’t forget to take time to remember we rest in Him or we don’t rest at all.  

When Asa placed his trust in the Syrian king instead of in God, he was told “In this you have acted foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars.”  2 Chronicles 16:9b

God will not always try and wake you up this drastically but that does not mean He looks the other way when we move from Him.  He loves us and because of that love He uses various circumstances to get our attention.  Like a good parent He provides not only love and forgiveness, guidance and reassurance but discipline.  

“For whom the Lord loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights.” Proverbs 3:12

So it is for our benefit that we remember who we serve and where our abilities come from and give credit where credit is due, respect where respect is due and let the true wearer of the britches wear them.