I am sure you have heard some Christians express that thought. Many Christians want to be sure that if anyone uses any of their material that they receive credit for it. If an idea is generated from something they said or did, they want their share of the credit. Many Christians want to be sure they get their share (or maybe more than their share) of whatever credit is coming.
Seeking credit and honor is fine and necessary in the business world. We have patent laws to protect those who have worked hard and spent a good deal of money to perfect a new product or invention. We have copyright laws to ensure that those who write literature or music will receive credit and whatever money may come from those things. Such things work well in the business world.
The church, however, should not operate like a business. As Christians, we should not be concerned with receiving credit, because our purpose is not to glorify ourselves but to honor God. Many verses could be mentioned emphasizing this. “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever” (1 Peter 4:11). “To God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever” (Romans 16:27). These verses point out that our main goal is to honor and glorify God, not ourselves, and that everything we do should work towards that goal. Furthermore, rather than selfishly working for our own benefit, we work to benefit others and lift them up. “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interest of others” (Philippians 2:3-4).
My credit is not to be gained on this earth. My goal should be to save souls and to help others be more effective servants of God. If I can produce something that can help others accomplish that goal, then other people should be able to use it without first giving me a lot of money or credit. We are not competitors, but coworkers. We are on the same team! The apostle Paul was not worried about receiving credit. For example, Paul was in prison when he wrote the Book of Philippians. In the first chapter of that book, he wrote about some people who were preaching Christ out of envy or jealousy, thinking that by preaching they could somehow increase Paul’s affliction. However, Paul did not care. In fact, Paul rejoiced because people were being taught and saved (1:18). Who received the credit was not Paul’s concern. People were being saved; God was being glorified, and that was all that mattered. Whose glory are you seeking?
