09/09/2025
Do we claim the glory of God for ourselves? Have we done this while doing great things that He has called and gifted us to do? Have we puffed out our chests and swaggered as if they were all about us? We are tempted by our nature as men and women of the world to claim personal responsibility for God's work when it moves through us to be performed in the physical world, but we must defeat that temptation lest we be humbled.
“"Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord." For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.”
2 Corinthians 10:17-18 ESV
I once knew a man who led praise during worship. The Lord gave that talent bountifully to him without any formal education... it was a gift. However, over the years this man lost sight of who really led the praise, and a certain pride entered into him which caused him to become conceited rather than self-effacing. In the end, the musical worship was taken from him... not by others, but by his own pride. A situation arose that required an apology, but he could not give it. God used his own intransigence, hubris, and sense of self-importance to remove him. The man's pride in what belonged to God prompted him to walk away rather than to humble himself before the Lord. He had lost sight of the source of his gift and came to commend himself and seek the glory of men rather than to seek the commendation of God. He had begun to deflect the flow of God's deserved glory to himself.
“Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and he is the judge.”
John 8:50 ESV
We are all tempted to do this to some degree when we are granted gifts by God. Those who pray healing for others are tempted to see themselves as healers rather than the conduits of God's healing. There are pastors who have their alter calls responded to by many and begin to believe that their skill in the pulpit saved those souls ... not God’s call and the Holy Spirit's move in the hearts of those sinners. Ladies deliver meals to the sick and shut-ins and begin to accept the praise for the work they originally set out to do for God. Each of these examples robs God of His rightful glory and are the result of our misdirected pride as we claim what is not ours.
“Jesus answered, "If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, 'He is our God.'”
John 8:54 ESV
A few years ago, I prayed with two other elders every Monday night. We were intercessors and many people came to us for prayer. God worked miracles before our very eyes, but the miracles were always God's. We prayed and God worked... all we did was obey Him through our steadfastness to His will in prayer. The healer was always God, the comforter was God, the redeemer was God, the one who cast out demons was God... and as intercessors we were merely lifting those needs up before Him. There was always the danger that we might be tempted to claim a piece of His glory for ourselves. This temptation was very real and required much fervent prayer in our own closets to ward it off.
Has God allowed you to work on His behalf? Have you done some task(s) for the kingdom, whether large or small, and had people thank you for them, or praise you before others? Did you let that praise you received stand? Have you ever been tempted to receive God's glory and then fallen victim to that temptation by claiming it under the pressure of your own pride or self-indulgence? If so then you are in mortal danger. Have you ever said, "praise be to God" and not meant it with all your heart? If so this also places your soul at risk. If these things are true then drop to your knees in prayer and ask the Lord for forgiveness. Make it known that all glory is His. Don't let even a tiny slip or innocent transference of God's accomplishments stand without redirecting them back to Him. Don't accept the work of the Holy Spirit as your own, nor claim the Living Water of Jesus Christ to be yours to pour out.
“Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!”
Psalms 115:1 ESV
The psalmist who wrote these words was inspired by God, and he also wrote a warning to go with it as well. He tells us to praise the Lord and not be silent... lest we be dead.
“The dead do not praise the Lord, nor do any who go down into silence. But we will bless the Lord from this time forth and forevermore. Praise the Lord!”
Psalms 115:17-18 ESV
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for those things you call me to do and the many gifts that you provide so that they might be accomplished. Thank you for my voice, my arms, legs, and every part of me that is used by you for your glory. Holy Father, stand with me and protect me against the dark one as he tempts me with pride and his lies that tell me I am in some way responsible for your great deeds. Jesus, lead me, and show me how to maintain the humility required to serve our Heavenly Father. Holy Spirit help me praise Him with all my heart and give Him every ounce of glory; not holding even a mite of it for myself. Help me Lord Jesus to distinguish between my will and the will of the Father. Teach me Dear Savior to say as you said... "Yet not my will, but yours be done." Then, in the completion of His miracles, and other tasks, let all my praise and glory be His alone.
“May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in his works, who looks on the earth and it trembles, who touches the mountains and they smoke! I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being. May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord.”
Psalms 104:31-34 ESV
Rich Forbes