In a previous article, I discussed how pride can be so entrenched in us that it becomes the root of our humility. I concluded by saying that instead of carving out our path without God, we should do it with and in Him. Let your life be built on doing everything to the glory of the Father (1 Corinthians 10:31). Be like the 12 disciples who told Jesus in John 6:68 and Mark 10:28 that for the sake of Christ, they had left everything to follow him; for he has the words of eternal life. They had chosen to press forward for that prize that could only be found in Christ. They knew their hope would be found only in him. They had made it their ambition to live for Christ to the glory of God.
However, even in that, there’s always the slight caveat that we are still in the flesh (Romans 7:14). Since that is true, there is a massive likelihood that our God-glorifying ambition can be selfish and not at all for his glory. Look at the disciples, for example. Peter is quoted saying the statements in John 6:68 and Mark 10:28. Yet, in the previous article, I used him as my primary example of what prideful humility can look like.
In this article, I seek to build on my previous article and encourage us to examine whether we are glorifying God for his sake or ours.
Glorifying God for Our Sake
The sad reality is that most of us aim to glorify God not for his sake but for ours. We will use verses such as Psalm 16:11, which says that in him, there are pleasures forevermore. However, we will forget to begin with Psalm 16:1, which says that he was the Psalmist’s good and that there was no good besides him. We look at Psalm 37:4 and forget to build it off Psalm 37:1-3, 5-7. As a result, we end up acting as those who tell Jesus in Matthew 7:21-23 ‘Did we not do such and such in your name’. Yes, they probably did, but they did it for their sake. Instead of rejoicing that their names are recorded in heaven, they rejoiced in whatever they thought they had done for Christ (Luke 10:17-20). Instead of regarding everything as loss for Christ’s sake, they regarded everything as loss for their sake (Philippians 3:7-8).
Some may think, ‘That’s true of non-Christians, but not me.’ If that’s true, praise God for that, but most of the time, it probably isn’t the case.
The Disciples’ Selfishness
Let us examine the disciples of Christ. They were the closest confidants of Christ and were personally chosen by him (John 6:69). However, as I usually say to myself when studying/reading the gospels, I don’t think the Pharisees brought Jesus as much of a headache as his disciples did. At least with the Pharisees, it was clear they were hypocritical, but with the disciples, much more was expected of them, and they always managed to fall short.
Yes, they were the men who left everything to follow Christ, knowing him to be God’s Son (Matthew 16:16) and the One with the words of eternal life. Yet, they were also the same men arguing about who was the greatest in the Kingdom of God (Mark 9:33-34; 10:35-41). It was also they who were angered when they found out someone else was proclaiming the same gospel as they were. Instead of glorifying God and telling Jesus that the roots of the gospel had become so deep that others were proclaiming it, they were insulted that anyone but them would do gospel work, so they tried to stop it (Mark 9:38).
The disciples are an example of men who, despite appearing to regard everything as loss, were doing so for their sake, not God’s. We see in them an example of men who, instead of carrying their cross and following Christ (Matthew 8:20), put down their cross to destroy the crosses of others.
Paul and the Selfishness of the Jews (Acts 22:1-22)
Let’s paint the scenario: Paul is standing before his fellow kinsmen, the Jews, making a case. They were angry at him and wanted him dead. He then starts speaking in their language, and all is going well. He tells them his life story. He was not only one of them but a Hebrew of Hebrews (Philippians 3:5). He also tells them how he got converted and even what happened afterwards. Up to that point, they were tracking with him well enough. However, he then says, “And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles'” (Acts 22:21). This statement enraged the Jews so much so that they now wanted him dead (Acts 22:2).
They had no issue with him until he mentioned that Gentiles were also partakers in the Kingdom. Because of this, they arrested him (Acts 21:27-36). The Jews forgot that the reason they were God’s chosen people wasn’t because of them but because he chose them (Deuteronomy 7:6-8). However, they were so prideful for being God’s chosen ones that they forgot that the promises made to Abraham were actually multiethnic (Genesis 12:3).
These events should serve to remind us that God doesn’t look at what is outward; instead, he looks at what is inward (1 Samuel 16:7, Proverbs 21:2). Thus, bloating up over your works, ask yourself if your heart is right with God. If it isn’t, I plead with you to repent and turn to God before he deals with you according to your ways and the fruit of your deeds (Jeremiah 17:10).
Glorifying God for His Sake
Are you, dear saint, the one who is putting down their cross to destroy the crosses of others? Are you so puffed up that you are envious of others, seek to discourage anyone below your level, and yet receive more praise than you? Or do you feel worthless because of the praise others receive? Might you feel like no one besides you deserves certain roles in church because you think ‘I am better’? Are you proud because your church is multiplying due to preaching the true gospel? Might you have forgotten that the church did not do it by her strength? Is your alleged success in glorifying God built on the failure of others?
If your answer is ‘Yes’ in any of the instances, that will clearly indicate a selfish form of God-glorifying ambition, which is essentially glorifying God amiss. You feel that only you are worthy, and the rest are not, forgetting that it is only by God’s grace that we move and have our being (Acts 17:24-28), which means we need God, not the other way around. Only by his grace do we even care for the things above, for he, through Christ, has brought us from death to life (Romans 6:1-14, Ephesians 2:1-10).
How to Glorify God for His Sake
Thus, let us not be like the disciples who were angered that someone else was preaching Christ. Instead, let us seek to be like the disciples who went out of their way to ensure that others besides them were involved in ministry (Acts 6:1-7). Instead of being envious of your fellow saints, be the one who exhorts and encourages them, stirring them up to love and good works for God’s glory (Hebrews 3:12; 10:24-25). Aim to pluck out that pride, envy and self-righteousness in your heart as soon as possible (Mark 9:42-50), even as you work out your salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12-13).
Do an honest assessment of your intentions and see if you truly regard everything as loss for his sake and not yours. Rejoice more in the fact that he knows you than in anything you supposedly do for him; even what you do for him can only be done by his strength (Philippians 4:13). Dear saint, please seek to ensure that even the roots of your God-glorifying ambition glorify God.
