After hearing a recent sermon at my church that basically challenged Christians to live for the glory of God, not ourselves, I have been struggling with what that truly means.
It is obvious to me that the greatest conflicts in life are dichotomy choices between good versus evil, light versus darkness, or flesh versus spirit…yet it is often not so “black and white” on what serving God means. I actually now think the answer is as varied as every creation of God. We all are created with different tasks and callings that can all be deemed to be serving the purposes that God created us for.
For some people, serving God is becoming monastic and sequestered from living in the “regular” world or society while others are all about building community and serving social causes. Some serve God by taking vows of poverty in order to relate to poor people while others believe all Christians should be millionaires who give a portion to help others less fortunate. Some believers think it is important to focus on being in shape, healthy, and looking fashionable as being in the best image of God while others eschew living for the outward appearance since it could be “vanity” and God looks upon the heart. It can really be confusing coming up with standards of what “living for God’s glory” means.
Perhaps Christianity’s biggest problem in this is the age old issue of comparing ourselves with each other. Some people think that the more they sacrifice or suffer, the more blessed and “living for God” they will be. Then of course, you have the “prosperity gospelists” who think that the closer you are to God, the more money and possessions you will be blessed with. I think honoring God in our lives could be found somewhere in the middle of all that.
Ultimately, I would suggest honoring God has little to do with comparing ourselves with any one else. Each of us has been made in God’s image, and He is obviously a God of great variety. Living for God’s glory is simply about seeking Him as the individual you are and moving in directions HE guides you into…not about what ideas you or others may have for your life. Yet, I would also suggest that what you can dream or have ambition for, as long as they aren’t sinful, are probably what God has for you to do. “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it for the glory (worship) of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). Then you will be OK.
In summary, some of us are called to suffer and be meek and mild in this life. Others seem called to excel and be the best at one thing or another…hopefully again to the glory of God. Starting at the Ten Commandments, we are not to COVET what is our brother’s…even their talents or fame. Wealth, talents, and fame can be a special and painful calling that are challenging to live up to. While these believers may have more “status” than most of us, it is actually in my observations a BURDEN to carry through this life. When you are blessed in such things, you will be surrounded by people that either want your attention, compare themselves to you, or they may want to steal what you have. “To whom much is given, much is required” (Luke 12:48). It’s sad that so many people of wealth and fame have to live behind secured walls or surrounded by body guards. It is very difficult for those people to have normal, healthy relationships since it is often hard to know the motivations of the people who want to be in their circle. Cliques and hierarchies are part of all human organizations, including churches.
So let us all be equal before God, giving Him praise for what we have…whether little or a lot. Let us not compare with each other, but rather share with each other as God has blessed us. And finally, don’t feel like you have to WORK to deserve God’s blessings. None of us are saved by works, but we can be enslaved by them if we have the wrong motivation or do so out of guilt. Our good works should be done in secret if at all possible so that we and others may know the true motivation of who does them. Blowing our horns about good we do might be considered “self centered” and the attention we get might be all the reward we will receive.
So now, in all you do give God the glory and walk in faith as He is the great enabler.