June, 2025 – Who Receives the Glory?

From Paul David Tripp’s book, ‘Suffering’ –   ‘Here’s the bottom line: if you’re God’s child, you’ve been liberated from the self-centered burden of living for yourself, and you’ve been freed to live for Him. That means you’ve been called to be part of what God is doing in the lives of those around you and around the world…The problem is that we don’t naturally have the desire to make personal sacrifices for the sake of ministry to others . . .’ 

You and I have seen far too many in ministry thrive on praise and adulation from others.  Upon arriving at a new church several years ago, I heard over and over the name of the former pastor.  Such praise as I had never heard for an individual!  I thought that he must be the closest to God of anyone here on earth.  As I listened to this man’s praise over and over, I began to realize that I never once heard praise on how he had led the people closer to God – or how he had taught them so much from the Scripture – or, how he had led them to a deeper and stronger life in Christ.  No.  All the praise was for him.

I learned that this former pastor was speaking one Sunday evening at the same church where he had pastored (and I was now a member).  I knew I needed to go hear him and see what all the adulation for this man was.  First of all, for all those people who sang his ‘glory’, only about twenty people showed up.  And after listening to him for the first fifteen minutes, or so, I began to wonder how I could possibly leave – just slip out of the auditorium unnoticed.  I know they exist, but I had never heard a church leader more full of himself than this man.  I was astounded!!

But in his defense, the story doesn’t end there.  This particular church (founded in the late 1700’s) had never had a great reputation for the way it treated its pastors.  So it was decided that the church would hold a Solemn Assembly – based on Joel 1.14 and other Scripture in the Old Testament.    (A Solemn Assembly is a sacred and reverent gathering for a specific, holy purpose, often involving worship, repentance, or significant religious occasions).  To my surprise, this former pastor not only attended, but stood during this gathering and openly confessed/repented that everything he had ever done was in his own power.  I was really taken off guard but duly impressed that he would reveal who he really had been.  Maybe all the praise and adulation had ‘gotten to him’??  I don’t know.  But it was refreshing to see one who was willing to share, to admit his short coming, repent – and want to start over.

Michael Bethany from Global Worship says that it is not for us (in ministry) to be seen.  It is for us to reveal God’s glory.  GOD’s glory!!  On a less significant level, I have been praised in my nearly twenty-five years of ministry in Love From Above – and have always been uncomfortable with it – extremely so!  Recently I was told by an individual that it was okay for me to accept praise/glory!  I could hardly believe these words were coming out of this person’s mouth especially considering their position in the church.  Either this person just doesn’t ‘get it’! – or, we are reading differently Bibles.

Peter said in his first epistle (4.11) – ‘If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God.  If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things GOD may be praised through Jesus Christ. To HIM be the glory and power for ever and ever. Amen.’  And, serious words from Isaiah 42.8 when we attempt to take credit for what God, alone, has accomplished –  ‘I am the Lord, that is My name!  I will not share my glory with another . . . ‘

The apostle Paul wrote in I Corinthians 10.31 that ‘whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God’.  As a matter of fact, Paul said in II Corinthians 12.10 that ‘he would only boast (receive glory) in his weakness – for then he would be strong’ (where God’s power could be manifested).  He also put forth in Galatians 6.14 that he only boasted in the cross of Jesus Christ – finding his ‘glory’ in what Christ had accomplished through His sacrifice at Calvary.  Not only did Paul refuse to ever accept any glory, he stated in I Timothy 1.15 that he was the chief of sinners – ‘a statement of personal humility AND a way to emphasize the vastness of God’s grace and mercy’.

Through much of my life I have been blessed to know and to minister with countless Christ-focused and most humble of ‘servants’.  But unfortunately, I’ve witnessed far too many in ministry who have just lapped up the praise and compliments heaped on them – actually bragging about what ‘they’ had accomplished – what great ideas they had come up with – how successful they were in their (given) ministry.  When did they start believing their own hype?  When did they take their eyes off Jesus (if indeed they ever were there) and focus on themselves.  Everything we are – who we are – what we accomplish is from Christ, alone. He has given us every bit of talent we have – giftedness – financial success – even the ability to praise Him.  ‘It is not I, but Christ Who lives in me’. (from Galatians 2.20)  A simple ‘thank-you’ is always appreciated, but it is not okay to glorify a person – or for one to receive glory – the praise, honor and glory that belongs, alone, to our most magnificent Holy and High Creator, Savior, and Sustainer!

As a musician, I have always loved Johann Sebastian Bach – probably the greatest musician who ever lived!  And there was a reason he was the greatest.  He was spiritually astute enough to realize that all his musical expertise had been given to him by God – so much so that he signed his compositions SDG – Soli Deo Gloria – To God-alone be the glory.  These initials expressed his belief that his music was not meant for personal glory, but to glorify God. That the signature of my life would be SDG . . .

“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.”  And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, “To Him Who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.”  – Revelation 5:12,13