To Whom Be The Glory

The first words of a favorite church song are, “To God be the glory…” We enthusiastically sing those words with meaning. Maybe we would do well to consider how often it is that the same sentiment is foremost in our thinking when someone gives us praise for a personal accomplishment. People who literally blush when someone praises them aren’t those who pursue personal glory. We all know people whom we would say have their “heads swell” when they are praised. Those are the opposite of the blushers. I suspect that most of us fall in between those two. We genuinely like to be praised, but we are not overtly seeking it. Henceforth, I issue a challenge to myself. May it become true of me that my first thought when someone pays me a compliment for an accomplishment is “to God be the glory.” Perhaps, in time I will grow to the point of even spontaneously vocalizing those words in response to some personal praise afforded to me.

Jesus taught many lessons via parables. We know all too well the various points to remember from the “parable of the talents” – as we call it. Among those are the need to make the most of what God affords us – whether that be abilities, fortune, or fame. I don’t believe that Jesus was highlighting the need to give God the glory in that parable, but He certainly overtly taught that principle on other occasions. In the “Sermon on the Mount” He said, “let your light so shine that…” others will give God the glory.

If we are not already those who blush in response to personal praise, that isn’t likely something we can learn to do. However, if we are those who have to tell ourselves not to swell with pride when praised, it is time to make a serious change. If we are among those who don’t overtly seek personal praise but really, really like it, we can make some adjustments as well. We can grow to becoming servants of God who respond to personal praise with immediate thoughts of wanting to have God be the recipient of that praise. Anything that we accomplish in the physical domain or the spiritual domain is most certainly only because of the talents and opportunities which God has afforded us. To God be the glory.

- Howell Todd #MaysvilleMessenger