Attribution comes up when you write a paper and give credit to someone whose words or ideas you include. It means naming your source. You can attribute both credit and blame.
We do this to God. Sometimes when a good thing happens we forget God is behind it. The Bible says “every good and perfect gift comes from above,” (James 1:17) but we take credit, don’t we? The Bible warns rich people to remember: “It is God who is giving you the power to make wealth” Deuteronomy 8:18.
Never forget the source of your success. STOP TAKING CREDIT.
Worse, we blame God for things He did not do. How many times have you been angry at God? Or questioned Him, blaming Him for some terrible thing that happened?
“Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord in vain” Exodus 20:7.
God warns us not to throw His name around carelessly. I think the worst way we do that is when we attribute messages to God that did not come from Him.
Have you heard people say “God told me…” and wondered whether God really said it?
Attributing a message to God that you are not ABSOLUTELY SURE came from Him is a grievous sin. THAT is using His name in vain—associating Him with something that may be a lie from the devil. I often refer to this as the sin of MISATTRIBUTION. Be careful not to misattribute credit or blame to God for things that God did not do or say.
The Pharisees say Jesus “drives out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons” Luke 11:15. Imagine that—Jesus is doing God’s work and they attribute it to the power of Satan. Jesus calls that Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, and He says:
“Whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the one to come” Matthew 12:24,32.
Be careful about attribution. Pray. NEVER BLAME GOD. Be cautious before you say God told you something—and be cautious before you say something is not of God when it might be. We must use great wisdom when we speak about the things of God.
Pray for insight.
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