A Lesson on Giving God the Glory from Billy Graham

Years ago I had the privilege to be with Billy Graham at a crusade he was doing in Portland, Oregon. It was an amazing crusade, with an almost revival-like atmosphere in that very liberal city.

I remember one night in particular, when God seemed to really bless Billy’s message, with many people coming to Christ. We left the stadium together in a car, with Billy’s longtime friend T. W. Wilson driving, while I rode shotgun. Billy and his son Franklin were in the back seat.

As we were pulling out of the parking lot, I leaned over the back seat and said, "That was a great message tonight, Billy."

Billy looked at me with those steely blue eyes and said, "It’s just gospel."

I turned back around, feeling a little awkward. I was just trying to be friendly. I remember thinking to myself, That didn’t go very well. I will say something else. Turning back around again I said, "Billy, I love the point when you said Christ will re-sensitize your conscience. That was a great point."

Again, Billy looked at me and said, "Well, He can."

I didn’t turn around again on the ride back to the hotel! What I learned that night was that you couldn’t pin a compliment on Billy Graham. It was like water off a duck’s back, and he really didn’t want to hear it. His attitude was, "I just did my job. I’m a delivery boy, and I gave the message. Now the results are in the hands of God."

As God’s spokespeople, we don’t take the credit and we don’t take the blame. We just deliver the goods.