Living to glorify God, not ourselves

Deep in every human soul is a subconscious longing for affirmation and praise from our Creator. When we lose sight of God the Father, however, our flesh can lead us to seek to be seen and praised by other human beings, particularly our earthly parents. This quenches the Holy Spirit because our focus is on the things of this earth and on human beings, rather than on the Kingdom of God. It is when we die to our fleshly nature and set our minds on things above that we will live extraordinary lives that will bring God glory. A life fully surrendered for God’s glory gets the attention of heaven as well as its treasures.

(See Chinese versions: 简体中文 > 活着为荣耀神，不是为自己 | 繁體中文 > 活着為榮耀神，不是為自己)

Matthew 6:1 ESV “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

Colossians 3:23-24 ESV Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

Matthew 25:21 ESV His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

Matthew 6:19-20 ESV  “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

Beware the idols in our hearts

When the apostle Peter tried to stop Jesus from going to the cross, the Lord made a startling statement. He rebuked Peter for setting his mind on the things of this earth rather than on the things of God. Jesus credited Satan for such a thinking. As believers, we are to fight to expand the Kingdom of God, rather than set up treasures on earth for ourselves where “where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal”. The Bible warns us not to be driven by bitter jealousy and selfish ambition, because this is “earthly, unspiritual, demonic”.

Matthew 16:23 ESV  But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

James 3:14-15 ESV  But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 

The Bible calls us to live our lives as a living sacrifice to God – as an act of worship, not of duty. When we resist doing so, we can be sure that there are things of this world that have enticed and captured our hearts.

Romans 12:1-2 ESV  … present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

The seduction of this world works in three main ways:

• Desires of the flesh – “My comfort, indulgences, happiness and earthly relationships are more crucial to me than God’s will.”
• Desires of the eyes – “My possessions matter more to me than God does.”
• Pride of life – “My interests and status are more important that God’s.”

1 John 2:15-17 ESV  Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

Thinking in any of these three ways is a sure sign that we have created idols for ourselves in this world. Such idolatry can prevent us from glorifying God with our lives because we “worship” things over Him. There may have been times where we have:

• Been disappointed that we don’t get more recognition when we serve at church.
• Been frustrated when God didn’t give us the things we want.
• Told God that we would only do certain things for Him if He made some things happen for us first.

God did not worship Himself so much that He would stop Himself from sending Jesus to us as our sacrifice. Is it not ironic that we tend to worship our own interests over His?

Why glorify God

God is not an egomaniac that He needs us to give Him glory. All of nature and heaven already glorify Him.

Psalm 19:1 ESV  The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

Even Jesus Christ did not choose to glorify Himself, despite His great personal sacrifices, but to glorify Father God. Jesus’ heart’s desire is for the Father’s glory, so much so that He promises to answer any of our prayers if we seek to glorify God.

John 14:13 ESV  Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

When we glorify God in everything we do, our lives will point people to God. We testify of His goodness and draw more of the lost to Him. When we glorify ourselves first, people don’t get to see God through us.

Matthew 5:16 ESV  In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Practical steps in giving God the glory

1. Dedicate everything we do to God

There is nothing that is too trivial to dedicate to God. This includes our meals, daily activities, work, family etc. We can glorify Him by acknowledging and thanking Him for His hand upon every aspect of our lives.

1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV  So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

2. Resist glorification

It is healthy to thank people when they appreciate us, but it becomes unhealthy when people start to glorify us and we don’t stop them. We are to seek our exaltations from God, not from people.

Galatians 1:10 ESV  For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

3. Acknowledge God in all our ways

We should give God praise for any achievement we have and acknowledge Him as the source of all good things. We can also acknowledge His presence, guidance, healing, peace, comfort and joy in the midst of the toughest trials. He will turn all things for our good and His glory. The more we openly confess our weaknesses, the more God’s glory can shine through us. We demonstrate that it is only through Him that we prosper spiritually.

2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV  … I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

4. Be generous

Mankind is naturally selfish and greedy. We can demonstrate God’s glory when we are unconditionally kind and generous to others, because this goes against human nature.

2 Corinthians 9:13 NLT As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God. For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ.

5. Live fruitful lives

We glorify God when our lives prosper in Him and we bear the Fruit of the Holy Spirit, regardless of our circumstances.

John 15:8 ESV  By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

Testimony: Turning from seeking praise to choosing to glorify God through own weaknesses 

“As I was preparing for inner healing and deliverance prayer, I sought the Lord’s assistance on the state of my relationship with Him. He revealed how my upbringing opened the path to spiritual strongholds of performance and pride. 

Growing up, my parents encouraged my siblings and me to work hard at school and with our household chores and they rewarded us for good performance. 

Looking back, I now see that this created a desire to find fulfilment in achievement – rather than in God. The Holy Spirit revealed that I was seeking man’s praise and the acceptance only God could give.

During the prayer session, the Holy Spirit showed me that I need not be seen to be righteous to be a good example to others: I am a work-in-progress. God accepts me in all of my brokenness. I am far from perfect. Only Jesus is perfect. I should put down the shame of showing weakness. God wants me to put down the shield that does not want to expose my brokenness so that people can see that He is working in me and see that I am a man of flesh.

God can use me as I am. I need to trust Him because only He can show me the right path – I should submit fully to Him; as He guides me daily.

God told me that He cherishes me. He freed me from chasing the things of the world; including man’s praise. God called me to put down the shield to allow me to be fearless, vulnerable, honest, true and not righteous, not right, not good. Those words of truth were a confirmation of what I had been hearing from the Holy Spirit. I needed to trust God completely. 

I had several strongholds which were brought down during the session: the need to make others proud of me, and feelings of failure that left me disappointed in myself.

I acknowledged that I had been led by a spirit of performance. I thanked God that He opened my eyes to something I had been blind to all along. I thought back to my own wife and children, and recognised that I placed pressure on them to perform and to be righteous – the same pressures I had placed on myself.

I was led to renounce self-righteousness. I am human and God’s name can be glorified even when I fail and acknowledge that I am not perfect as God is still growing me spiritually. Instead of looking to myself to get things done, I need to depend on Him.

That day, I repented for putting pressure on myself. I revoked the spirit of performance, the spirit of seeking the things of the world, and the pursuit of man’s praise. Instead, I chose to be honest, true, fearless, and vulnerable.  I permitted myself to fail even when things don’t look set up for success; giving up the spirit of control.

After the prayer ministry, I asked my wife and children for forgiveness for the years I was driven by a spirit of performance.

I thank the Good Lord for the freedom I now experience in Him. He has freed me from myself and the world. I thank God for continuing to teach me how to be a good son to Him. I now know that I can seek Him for big and small things, for myself as well and not just for others. Thank God, for He answered my prayers.”

May this sharing be a blessing to you as you seek to love God with all your heart and glorify Him all that you do.