God made all things.
—Romans 11:36
Meandering 4,132 miles, the Nile is the world’s longest river. It played a crucial role in the development and sustenance of Egyptian civilization. Greek historian Herodotus wrote that “Egypt was the gift of the Nile.”
Wouldn’t you know that some inflated ego would take credit? Sure enough, Pharaoh, king of Egypt, arrogantly claimed that the Nile was his, that he made it. God responded: “Because you said, ‘The Nile is mine; I made it,’ therefore . . . I will make the land of Egypt a ruin and a desolate waste” (Ez 29:3, 9–10).
All of our abilities and resources are gifts from God. The doxology of Romans 11:33–36 ends with the words: “God made all things, and everything continues through him and for him. To him be the glory forever! Amen.”
Praise the Giver, not the gifts.