Giving Glory to God, not to Men
By F. M. W.
ALL glory belongs to God. He is the source of every blessing and benefit. Every good and perfect gift comes from him. Every right impulse in the human heart is born of the Holy Spirit. The Creator gives power to get wealth. He has formed man's mind to think. He strengthens his hand to labor. And when man sold himself into the hands of an enemy and was hopelessly condemned to death, Heaven provided a way of escape, and Christ by shedding his own blood bought back again that which had been lost through the fall. The Lord in the wonderful provisions of his grace permits his children to become partakers with him in his work. He intrusts them with his message of love to their lost fellows. He imparts to them his Holy Spirit, and uses them as his ambassadors to a fallen world. Oftentimes he is pleased to work through their humble efforts in most marvelous ways for the salvation of souls. How ungrateful is man, in the vanity of his selfish mind, to feel that the work has been accomplished through his ability or genius, or to view his achievement as did Nebuchadnezzar of old, who said, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built?” It is proper that the minister of Christ should report to his brethren that which God has accomplished through his efforts. The apostle Paul did this. The record states that Paul and his companions returned to Antioch, “and when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.” Acts 14: 27. But we must believe from the teaching of the apostle that in this report there was no self-glorying, no comparison of the success of his administration with that of Peter, of Andrew, or of John. In fact, he declares: “We dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. . . . But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.” 2 Cor. 10: 12-18. In the epistles of the apostle Paul, written under many varying circumstances and conditions to different churches, we find but little credit taken to himself for the success of his efforts. This same modesty characterized the work of the Master. How plainly he taught that the manifestation of true Christian greatness was in service for God, and that “he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.” Repeatedly the proud, boastful, self-assertive spirit of the apostle Peter was rebuked. The Scriptures represent the last days’ as being characterized by those who are “lovers of their own selves,” “boasters,” “proud,” “heady, high-minded,” etc. Against this spirit the last message warns, exhorting men to “fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come.” In that solemn hour when every motive of the heart and purpose of the life stands revealed, how vain will appear human glory and human glorying. How small will man appear in his own estimation and in the esteem of his fellows! The lofty looks of man will be brought low. Human pride will be humbled in the dust, and the Lord alone will be exalted in that day. It is bad enough to see one human being give glory to another, but it is even worse to see poor, fallible man take glory to himself. Declares the wise man: “Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.” We do not need to carry a great burden of anxiety over our reputation. If we have done well, we shall find that others, as a rule, will accord us our full measure of credit. The consciousness in our own hearts that we have the approbation of God will prove a satisfying reward. In any event, we can ill afford to cultivate the spirit of the boaster. Our boasting may be tactfully done, by suggestion and implication, rather than openly and broadly, but its intent will be none the less apparent. Our fellows may give respectful ear to our relation of our achievements; they may even recognize the merit and worth of what we have done; but the very fact that we recognize it, and that we call it to their attention, and that we put ourselves in the position of boasting over it, or calling attention to it, unconsciously lowers us in their estimation. There is no failing so odious in the sight of others as that of self-conceit. The overflowing hope of the optimist may amuse; the snarling, crabbed criticism of the pessimist may annoy; but the conceited boasting of the egotist disgusts and nauseates. His fellows recoil from his approach, and breathe a sigh of relief at his departure. It is proper that we should recount the mercies of the Lord, speak of his goodness, and praise him for all that he has done for us and through us; but let us seek to do it with that spirit of humility that will not direct the attention of others to us as the object of praise, but rather to the One who has wrought through our feeble instrumentality, and in spite of our weaknesses. We need to pray constantly to be delivered from the snare of self-deception and from the sin of self-conceit. We should pray for sanctified judgment, for good sense, for a proper estimate of ourselves, of our fellows, and of all life's relationships. When with Job we not only hear of God, but come to see him as he is, and our own unworthiness and weakness in startling contrast, like the patriarch we shall be led to exclaim: “Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” Let us seek to learn the lesson of true humility. To such the promise is, “He that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” F. M. W.