Whatever we have has come from the hand of God.

The Apostle Paul asked a poignant question in 1 Corinthians 4:7: "What do you have that you did not receive?"

The man Job acknowledged that God is the giver of all things when he said, "The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away" (Job 1:21). Boasting about whatever is in our possession is totally out of order.

Whatever position we have is because God put us there. Paul said, "There is no authority except that which God has established" (Romans 13:1). Good or bad, rulers, leaders, and bosses are where they are because God ordered it.

Beyond that, even who and what we are as individuals is ultimately a work of God's sovereignty. Paul challenges us about this in Romans 9:20: "But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, 'Why did you make me like this?'"

Our proper response to God and His work is humility and praise. We are to exalt Him as Creator and take our place as the created, ever mindful of the roles established. The one thing God wants is credit for who He is and what He does.

There was a king in ancient Babylon named Nebuchadnezzar. He was an absolute monarch; that is, even his idle word was law. He held unimaginable power over the kingdom given to him by God Almighty.

One day this king had a dream (Daniel 4:5). The dream was that a huge tree, beautiful and fruitful beyond description, was growing in the land. In the dream, suddenly a messenger from heaven came down and commanded that the tree be cut down, but the stump of the tree was left to the ravages of the weather (vv. 15-16).

A message came with the dream. It was spoken to the king as he slept: "The Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of men" (v. 17).

The king did not understand the dream and called for help in understanding its meaning (v. 18). Daniel told the king that the tree represented him as king. The cutting down of the tree was a warning to the king that if he did not remember who God was and give Him proper credit, he would lose his kingdom for a season (v. 23).

The king did well in his relationship with Almighty God for a while, but one day a year later, the king took stock of his situation and took personal credit for the glory of the land (vv. 28-30). Immediately a voice from heaven came to the king. He was told that the kingdom would be taken from him, and he would live with the wild animals. He would eat with the animals and grow to look somewhat like an animal (vv. 32-34).

This king was put out to pasture by God because he failed to give God credit or glory for who God is and what He had done.

The king got the message. His conclusion: "I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever" (v. 34).

God's pasture is unpleasant but effective. Individuals, families, and even nations can be put out to pasture. God will be glorified one way or the other; it's best that we glorify Him willingly and in a timely manner.