We live in a success-oriented world. Bigger is better, and biggest is best. Whether in the business world, the sports arena, the science lab, or the archeological dig site, it’s being the first—the most, the best—that motivates many to not rest until the gold chain hangs around their neck. This is not altogether bad. We ought to desire to give every task our best effort. But, only one can be at the very top, and having done our very best, we ought to be able to thank God for allowing us to serve, to compete, to participate in whatever endeavor we engage in.
There is a danger, though, in being the best, in being better than most, or in merely thinking we are the best or better than most. The danger is that, human nature being what it is, one can easily be tempted to succumb to pride, boasting, arrogance, and glorying in self-accomplishments. Politicians are almost across-the-board boasters; it seems to be a matter of political survival. They are not alone in this American pastime. Most who read this will never have attended a “pastors fellowship” meeting, but those of you who have might acknowledge that there was perhaps some pride in the air when Dr. So and So asked his fellow pastors how many folk were in attendance at last Sunday’s service. Pride surfaces even in such spiritual atmospheres.
Paul plainly warned that “he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” (2 Cor.10:7) If a servant of Christ has anything to glory in, it is only that God’s grace, goodness, and sufficiency are always abundant—along with His mercies, which are new every morning.
We dare not glory in the works of men. Humans have accomplished unimaginable plateaus of success in science, agricultural, technology, and medicine, to mention just a few areas. But, John the Apostle puts it all in perspective when he reminds us that “the world passeth away, and the lust thereof, but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.” (I John 2:15-17)
Nor should anyone glory in the words of men. Words can move and mold the world at times. Great orators can be tools for the cause of evil (Hitler) or for the cause of good (Churchill). Peter warns against “great swelling words of vanity.” (2 Pet.2:18) One wag quipped that oratory is the “ability to make deep sounds from the chest sound like great thoughts from the mind.”
Neither should the wisdom of the world mesmerize us. Educators, philosophers, lawyers, and even clergy can wow with worldly wisdom. But Paul admonishes that God hath made foolish the wisdom of this world, so that no flesh should glory in His presence. (I Cor. 1:19,20,29)
Then again, the wealth of this world is nothing more than vanity. Solomon, the king that had amassed an incalculable amount of this world’s riches, said that when it was all said and done, nothing amounted to anything more that vanity, nothingness! Jeremiah summarizes what we should not glory in when he said, “Thus saith the Lord, let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches.” (Jer. 9:23)
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, learned this lesson the hard way. He had built ancient Babylon, a city incomparable in beauty and grandeur, and boasted: “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built…by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty?” (Daniel 4:30) But God brought the great king to the lowest level possible. For seven years, Nebuchadnezzar groveled in the forest like a beast of the field. When God mercifully restored the pathetic sovereign to his right mind, Nebuchadnezzar said: “Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride He is able to abase.” (Daniel 4:37)
So, we must not glory in that which is temporal, worldly, man-made, and earthbound. But the Word of God specifies some things that we ought to glory in:
(1) David said, “Glory ye in His holy name.” (Ps.105:3) It is the name which is above every name; the name at which every knee shall bow, (Phil.2:10) and the only name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12) Give glory to His name!
(2) We should glory in the fact that we can know our Creator God. Jeremiah continues his word after warning us of that in which we should not glory: “But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for these things I delight in, saith the Lord.” (Jer. 9:24)
(3) We also ought to glory in the purging process that comes our way when God is maturing us. We will have tribulations and trials in this world. Paul said, “Not only so, but we glory in tribulations also; knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience experience; and experience hope: and hope maketh not ashamed.” (Romans 5:3-5) Paul, who wrote that we can glory in tribulation, enumerated what trials he had suffered when writing to the church at Corinth. (2 Cor. 12:9ff.) He had suffered every kind of physical and mental deprivation and hardship—yet Paul acknowledged that the process ultimately produces patience, experience, and hope. We therefore can and should “glory” in tribulations.
(4) Finally, we can, and we must, glory in the cross! Paul was adamant in declaring, “But God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Gal.6:14) It was on the cross—cruel instrument of shame and suffering—that Christ bore the curse of, paying the penalty for, our sins. He satisfied the wrath of His holy Father, becoming the propitiation for our sins, so that we can—and should, above all other things—glory in the cross. Jesus died for the sins of the world. He did so upon an old rugged cross. His death was substitutionary for every sinner. His death was atoning and sufficient. Calvary covers it all. Let us never cease glorying in the cross!
“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us who are saved it is the power of God.” (I Cor. 1:18)
YOU and GOD 