One of the pursuits that epitomizes the nucleus of human existence has to do with our desire to obtain glory and honor; and it is so because at one time we had it in exceeding abundance, for it was lavished on us with utter generosity. But unfortunately the Fall brought an end to such an exuberant existence and plunged us into penury and lamentation. The apostle Paul expressed it in these few words: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23).
As Jesus points out in the Gospel of Luke, we usually seek the things we have lost. Here are His words:
What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? … … Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!” (Luke 15:4–9).
Therefore our search for glory and honor is justified, for these elements have been an intrinsic part of our makeup ever since we were created. Hence we find ourselves restless and somewhat incomplete until what was lost is found.
A deceptive search
The problem we are facing resides in the fact that we are often seeking glory and honor in the wrong place. That is the point Jesus is making in John’s Gospel when he says:
How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?” (John 5:44).
Here we have a twofold observation. First we are confronted with the fact that we humans tend to seek the glory and the honor proceeding from men. Then we are told that this mistake will surely sabotage our faith. Consequently this statement puts forth a spiritual law. It is an “either-or” situation: Either we have faith, or glory proceeding from men. We cannot have both since the one neutralizes the other.
Receiving glory from one another
Noticed that in John 5:44 Jesus doesn’t say explicitly that it is wrong for us to seek glory or honor from man (some translations uses the word “glory” and others the word “honor”), what is explicit is that it is wrong for us to receive glory from one another. That is, even if we don’t seek honor and glory from man, we should not receive it if it comes to us , i.e., we should not harbor it as something meaningful because man’s evaluation might come short of what is really the case. That is why Jesus says:
I do not receive honor from men” (John 5:41).
If the incarnated Son of God refuses to receive honor from men, who are we to receive it. And if it is wrong to receive it, how much worse it is to seek it. Such a search can only reveal the carnality of one’s mind, for it is, at its core, an unmistakable expression of self-centeredness. It follows that the person that seeks earthly glory has already exhibited the impurity of his motives.
Addressing the Philippians Paul writes:
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves” (Philippians 2:3).
Here the apostle warns us against this sort of corruptive appetite, an appetite that can poison the whole soul and destroy the splendor of any accomplishment—at least as far as God is concerned. This “Let nothing be done” is quite authoritative and we would do well to implement its importance in our daily life.
Writing to the Thessalonians Paul insists:
But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts. For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness—God is witness. Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ” (1 Thess. 2:4–6).
To receive glory from men will always leave a bad taste in our mouth and a sharp sense of dissatisfaction. It might make us smile for a season, but the aftereffect will be a moral malaise, an awareness of insincerity and artificiality. And most of all it will strip us of any heavenly reward. It is, in its fullness, an absolute delusion, the fruit of a devilish deceit feeding the carnal mind and the arrogance of man. In fact, the author of Proverbs goes as far as to say that this sort of ephemeral glory is no glory at all.
It is not good to eat much honey, nor is it glory to search out one’s own glory” (Prov. 25:27).
And to add to the agony such vainglory doesn’t last. It is a cloud that vanishes away, forgotten forever.
All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away …” (1 Peter 1:24).
The glory coming from God
In John 5:44 we read:
How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?”
These words affirm that God expects us to seek the honor and glory coming from Him and from Him only. For He knows it has been an intrinsic part of our makeup ever since we were created. This glory, which proceeds from God, cannot be compared with the fleeting glory proceeding from men, for it is substantial and lasting. It leaves no sorrow but rather fills the soul with elation and true satisfaction.
I leave you with these words:
But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God” (Rom. 2:5–11).
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