Tuesday, June 10, 2008

What does it mean to glorify God? (part 1)

Good question. It is a phrase that is tossed around like popcorn in Christian circles. “It is our goal to glorify God in everything we do.” That phrase seems a little elusive until one understands what it really means. Initially, it leads us to ask the questions: why does God need to be glorified? Is He arrogant? Is He prideful? Is He missing something that He needs to get from us so that He feels better about Himself?

All of these questions are based on a false premise. They stem primarily from human experience, and in asking them this way we are projecting back on God things that we know are true from human life in a sinful world. The reality is, God is completely perfect and sufficient and is not in need of anything outside of himself. This is not true for us, for we are wholly dependent on outside sources for our very survival. We are dependent on food and water and air to breathe. God has no need for any of those things. He is perfect and deserving of all worship and praise since he is the source of all things (Col. 1:15-23).

So then, to say that we need to glorify God, we are not saying that we need to add something to God that is lacking in His who He is, as if He is empty and needy and is in dire need for others to revere Him so that He can become more complete. Nor is it to say that God has any sinful pride that needs fed. He is holy.

Ok then, what are we saying? What does it mean to glorify God? Simply put, to glorify God is to praise and worship Him for who He is and to enhance is His reputation above anything else in the universe. Thus, the Westminster Confession (a reformed statement of faith adopted by the Church of England in 1646) states clearly that the “chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” This says something about God and it says something about us.

What it says about God is that He alone is the One who is worthy of worship, adoration, and praise. He is the center of the universe and the purpose of all life. But it also says something about us and that is this: we are by nature designed and created for God’s glory, and so all that we do and say ought to be done towards that purpose. We live not for ourselves, but for Him. Consider these two Scriptures:

“Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth -- everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made."
Isaiah 43:6-7, NIV

“In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5:16, NIV

(some versions translate it as, “glorify your Father who is in heaven.”, which is more accurate according to the Greek. Sometimes the NIV lightens things a bit).

So you and I exist for the select purpose of glorifying God, to enhance His reputation. We were made to worship Him, to revere Him, to find our primary sense of fulfillment and purpose in nothing else than in Him alone. That’s why we were made. Simple. In a crude illustration, if we want someone’s reputation be known or enhanced we talk that person up. We tell others about that person. We might make signs and billboards and do things that will get others to notice the person whose reputation we want to accentuate. (Dare I say, it’s like putting a sign in your yard to promote a candidate for office.) This leads me to my second point.

According to Jesus in Matthew 5, every good deed we perform ought to be designed towards enhancing the reputation of God. Every action, no matter how small. In fact Paul went much further. Not only our good deeds ought to do this, but practically everything should be for this purpose. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 10:31, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” That’s pretty comprehensive.

Ok, so what? How does this affect my everyday life? How does the command to glorify God impact my attitudes, actions, conversation, dreams, goals, and relationships? Well tune in later, as this will be the subject of part 2 of this blog in the days to come.

John Piper calls glorifying God a “joyful duty.” Well said. This is not a command made to make us miserable, but in actuality, we are never more satisfied and fulfilled than when we are bent towards glorifying God. Like John the Baptist said, “He must become greater, I must become less.” More of Jesus, less of me. And when that starts to happen, then I will find the real me, the “me” God created me to be.

7 comments:

Unknown said...

Great blog! I'm reading that book by John Piper now, so very timely blog indeed!! Great job as always Huff!

Lesli McMillan said...

hello! my husband and i have made some family principles that we are trying to live by. the first one is to glorify God in everything. I was trying to get a better grasp of just what that means and I found your blog very helpful! thanks for using your talents to glorify God!

master468 said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

I've always struggled in understanding the word "glory" or "glorify". Thank you for making it a little bit easier to understand. Also, if you or your readers are ever in the New Orleans area, please come visit us at Lakeview Christian Center, a Sovereign Grace Church. In Him because of Him, Gayle

Rebekah Harrison said...

Thank you for that! Doing an one to one bible study and what you had to say has been really helpful for it. Keep up the good work!

Anonymous said...

great post. Helped me to get a better grasp of just what glorifing God means. God bless you!

Anonymous said...

I felt I needed help with my prayer life. The other day I decided to ask God to teach me to pray to give me a revelation on a better way to pray. God has being teaching me some things, among them, what you are explaining here about gloryfing God. Also, that the purpose of answered prayer is for Jesus to continue to glorify the Father this is backed up in scripture in John 14:13. Also, Romans 8 where it talks ablut how the spirit will help you pray. God is awesome and can teach us to pray and have intimacy with him. We do not need religion but relationship. Glory to God! amen