03/17/2025
When we perform our works of faith or even kneel to pray, who are we attempting to please? Are our eyes on Jesus and our hearts longing for God, or is there something or someone else who has taken the glory of our efforts? Was it ourselves? I am exploring the motivation behind the acts we do that we claim are of faith this morning, and how we can keep them directed rightly towards the glory of God.
“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV
“Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.”
2 Corinthians 5:9 KJV
This morning I was reading Pastor Oswald Chambers' discussion on why we labor in faith and it convicted me. He was drilling into the motivation behind what we do in church and elsewhere for the kingdom of God.
"It is not lack of spiritual experience that leads to failure, but lack of laboring to keep the ideal right." - Oswald Chambers
Have you ever seen or felt the inspiration of God as it creates an amazing vehicle for revealing His Word? There are grand examples like the hospitals that Mother Teresa built in India, but in each of our churches and lives there are smaller, but like-minded ideas that come from God and win souls; novel Sunday school programs, outreach efforts, a simple determination to win one person in our lives to Jesus, or perhaps initiatives to feed, clothe, and house the homeless... there are so many examples. Then, when they are in full swing and God is receiving the glory of their success something happens... ever so subtly the motivation behind our efforts begins to turn inward and we begin to claim a share of God’s glory.
“Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion, and to you shall vows be performed. O you who hear prayer, to you shall all flesh come.”
Psalm 65:1-2 ESV
I know that in my life the temptation for that to occur is very real. It takes much prayer and a constant guard to protect me against it. Here is an example... I was a member of a three-man intercessory prayer group at my church. Although this group had been in existence for 35 years, I was asked to replace one of its founding members and prayed with them for several more years. We prayed for all manner of needs, from salvation to healing, and even life conflicts in business and beyond. It was a blessing to our church and the community as a whole. Yet, as prayers were answered and lives and bodies healed by the Lord, it became hard to keep the focus on God's provision and not take the tears and hugs of gratitude from those God had touched through us at least partially for myself... but that should never happen, and as I hugged those for whom we had just prayed I had to constantly remind myself that although they were physically hugging me, they were really embracing God... I was just a physical stand-in for Him... and He blessed me for having realized that.
“I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.”
Philemon 4-6 ESV
Pastor Chambers understood the temptation to claim God's glory. He wrote these words regarding how we should guard against taking credit for God's work:
"Once a week at least take stock before God and see whether you are keeping your life up to the standard He wishes... Any ambition which is in the tiniest degree away from this central one of being "approved unto God" may end in our being castaways. Learn to discern where ambition leads" - Oswald Chambers
Of all the things we hold of great value, there should be none more precious to us than pleasing God, and the right-minded service we yield to Him. The trap, the snare, the whisper of Satan, comes over us while preaching, witnessing, praying, or serving, when we lose sight of what Chambers called "the ideal"... which is that whatever we have done is of God alone, and not us. It is God alone who should be honored, praised, and glorified. Jesus said it too in John 5…
“I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.”
John 5:30 ESV
“But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”
1 Corinthians 9:27 KJV
So, whether it be small or great, insignificant or world shattering, there is no room for us at the podium when glory is being handed out, nor in the prayer room when we are interceding for others and thanks are being given. We are simply meant to be the humble servants of the Lord. Then, on our day of judgement, when the last will be first, God will say "this is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased." So I ask again, are we giving the glory to God for all we do?
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for all the blessings you bestow upon me as I serve you and your kingdom. Lord, never let me mistake your work through me for my own. Keep my eyes on you and never let me look to myself in satisfaction when you are the proper recipient of the glory, praise, and thanks.
Let me be a good and faithful servant to you Father. I pray that your Son Jesus will lead me on and show me how to be humble while doing your will without reservation, and how I am to give you all of the glory for those things as I do them for you. I praise you in all things, and for all that you do, in my life. Never let my eyes lose sight of you Lord and always keep my hands lifted up to you in praise and adoration. Let me serve no other master, not self, or any other but you, my one true God.
Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God in whom all things are possible, and every prayer is answered. Holy are you to whom all glory is due, and from whom all mercy, grace, and every blessing does flow endlessly. Hear my prayers offered in the Spirit, see my humble acts of faith performed in obedience to you, and receive the glory you are due in them all. Great are you my God, and greatly to be praise. I pray that all who see and hear will call out Hallelujah to you and claim an Amen with me to all you have done through me… your willing servant.
Hallelujah, and Amen.
Rich Forbes