Psalm 96:8 Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts
What did you give up when you gave your life to God? That question is actually somewhat general and vague. Some people think I am talking about salvation and some people think I am talking about dedication after I have trusted Christ. When it comes to salvation, what did you give God for salvation? Did you give Him your money, your abilities, your virtue? The Bible is clear, “Not by works of righteousness that we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us.” You gave God absolutely nothing for salvation. Salvation is what God gives you. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son.” It is sheer arrogance to think that you gain salvation by giving God anything. Salvation is a gift from God.
What about dedication? What did you give up when you gave your life to God? Again, did you give your abilities, talents, plans, maybe the breath you breathe? What do you have that God didn’t give you first? Certainly, He gives you the breath you breathe. You might say, “I have worked hard to be where I am. I’ve earned all the money and all the position.” You may have worked hard, but you worked hard on a gift that was already in you. You worked hard on something that God gave you. So, whether we are talking about salvation or dedication, is there really anything you could give God that God didn’t give you first?
Psalm 96 is a psalm about singing a new song to the Lord. There is a reason for this, to bless His name. Verse 7 says, “Give unto the LORD, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength. Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts.” Notice all the references of what we are to give God, credit for what He gave us, to bless Him for blessing us. The bottom line is anything you give the Lord flows from giving Him credit.
Notice the synonyms for what we are to give. Verse 3 says we are to declare His glory. Verse 10 says we are to “say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth.” All this is encompassed in the word worship. Worship is attributing worth to God. I don’t give God glory; I just recognize that He has it. I don’t give strength to God; I just recognize that strength comes from Him. What I am to give God is credit, not the thing itself. God already has glory; I give Him acknowledgement of what is His. God already has strength; I just acknowledge what is already His. I am to declare, say, and worship to attribute worth to God.
All this is for a reason. Verse 4 says, “For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods.” This credit I am to give God is not arbitrary. It is for a reason. He is God. He is great and glorious. I am to acknowledge that in worship. Creation will do this. Verses 11-13 say, “Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof. Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice before the LORD… he cometh to judge the earth.” Don’t you worry, creation will attribute worth to God.
Every morning, I go outside and marvel at the wonderful world that God has made. I see the birds, deer, wild turkey, and so much more. Creation will attribute worth to God. The one exception that must exercise its will is people like us. He is the judge of the whole earth. The question is, “Will God give thanks or credit to you?” No! He is God and I am not. But I can give thanks and credit to God, and I should because anything you give God flows from giving Him the credit.