“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights…” (James 1:17)
In the early 1960s, some unusual paintings featuring a person or animal with huge, sad eyes became popular. Some considered the work tacky, but others delighted in it. As the artist’s husband began to promote his wife’s creations, the couple grew quite prosperous. But the artist’s signature—Margaret Keane—didn’t appear on her work. Instead, Margaret’s husband presented his wife’s work as his own. Margaret fearfully remained silent about the fraud for twenty years until the couple’s marriage ended. It took a courtroom “paint-off” between them to prove the true artist’s identity.
As crazy as it was for the husband to take credit for his wife’s paintings, it is no crazier than when we try to take credit for the blessings God has given to us. How often do we live our lives as if it belongs to us and not God?
When we make decisions for our lives without any thought about what God wants, then we are in effect committing a spiritual forgery. We want God’s blessings, but we want to do things our way, not His.
So don’t forget that “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above.” Everything you have, every blessing you have received (including life itself) was given to you by God. He is the owner, you are simply the manager of it.
He is the artist who is painting the portrait of your life. Therefore, ask God to help you live your life in such a way that the lost world around you will see His name on your canvas.