Stolen Valor
Stolen Valor
Judges 7:16-18
And he divided the 300 men into three companies and put trumpets into the hands of all of them and empty jars, with torches inside the jars. And he said to them, “Look at me, and do likewise. When I come to the outskirts of the camp, do as I do. When I blow the trumpet, I and all who are with me, then blow the trumpets also on every side of all the camp and shout, ‘For the LORD and for Gideon.’”
This is a fitting time to clear up a common misconception held by devout and well-meaning Christians about God’s desire for His own glory. The misconception is that because God deserves all glory for every jot and tittle of human achievement, that He desires for us to never receive credit for the auxiliary part we play in His commission. Oh, but the ineffable picture of our heavenly reward is not that we, in our humility, throw our golden crowns at Christ’s worthy feet, but that He, in His humility, picks them back up and places them back on our heads. See, man’s vice is to steal valor. God’s virtue is to share it.
But wait? Why then did God whittle down 32,000 men to 300? Didn’t He explicitly state that it’s because He didn’t want the soldiers to boast in their own work? Yes, but honor wasn’t the problem—boasting was. Don’t forget the LORD’s warning to the pilgrims back in Deuteronomy that when they became successful and wealthy and conflict-free in the Promised Land, they’d be tempted to look at their prosperity, forget about Him, and exclaim, “Look what I’ve wrought!” See, friend, it’s one thing to look at the work of our hands with a grateful heart and see the good in it; it’s another thing to look at the work of our hands with a prideful heart and make a god of it.
“For the LORD and for Gideon.” That’s glory in the proper order. “Seek first the Kingdom of heaven and the rest will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). “Humble yourself in the sight of the LORD and He will lift you up” (James 4:6 & 10). God may choose to use your voice today as a trumpet that sends the legions of hell into utter chaos. So be vigilant. And be valiant. And, by God’s help, be victorious!