Scripture carries a repeated theme. Peter asked that "in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever" (1 Peter 4:11). Paul commanded "Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Cor 10:31). To the Ephesians he wrote, "To [God] be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever" (Eph 3:21). Isaiah quoted God as saying, "I am YHWH, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another" (Isa 42:8). In Ephesians 1:3-14, where Paul lists some of the blessings already ours in Christ, he says three times that the blessings are for God's glory. Psalm 115 begins, "Not to us, O YHWH, not to us, but to Your name give glory because of Your lovingkindness, because of Your truth" (Psa 115:1). It would appear, then, that God's running theme is His own glory. And it would appear that our failure to grasp this is our primary sin (Rom 3:23).
What is the glory of God? It is a reference to God's overall magnificence. It is all of His attributes together and tied in a bow of eternity -- never beginning and never ending. All that He is. So why would He get all the glory? Paul put it this way. "Nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things" (Acts 17:25). He should get all the glory because it is all His. Some have suggested that God is a megalomaniac, desiring that everyone recognize how great He is. That would be a reasonable accusation ... if it wasn't God. Because a megalomaniac is mistaken about his own greatness. It is a delusion of grandeur. God, on the other hand, really is that great. God is no megalomaniac; He is a realist.
It bespeaks of our own very real problem. Clearly the Absolute Master of the universe should receive all the attention, but we, tiny and insignificant as we are, begrudge Him that. We deny the truth. And therein is our problem -- our suppression of truth for which God is righteously angry (Rom 1:18). In fact, if we can grasp His glory, then pursuing and demonstrating that would actually be fulfilling our purpose in life. None for us; all glory to Him.
1 comment:
I don't think it is possible for us to come up with a word that would be a positive version of megalomaniac because in our experience it isn't possible to be so self interested without it being detrimental to those around us. Only God can be so consumed with Himself and still have that "vanity" be good for all Creation as well. It is a difficult concept for us since we have no other examples of it to pull from. Thanks be to God that He is so concerned with His glory, or we wouldn't exist.
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