WHO'S GLORY ARE YOU SEEKING?
"HE WHO SPEAKS FROM HIMSELF SEEKS HIS OWN GLORY; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, AND NO UNRIGHTEOUSNESS IS IN HIM."
John 7:18 (NKJV)
Comment: One of the major lessons that should be learnt in the life and the earthly Ministry of Jesus Christ is how He acknowledges God always in all His doings. God wants acknowledgement (Proverbs 3:5,6). The secret of success in life and ministry is the ability to acknowledge God always; in whatever you are doing and wanted to do.
Jesus in the above passage of the Bible says He was not seeking His own glory, but the glory of the One Who sent Him. Who's glory are you seeking? In all you do as a believer or a minister of God, Is God's Glory your main priority or you have your glory as your goal?
Many believers and ministers usually miss it in this issue of acknowledgent. When you did not acknowledge God in all you do, you would not have His backings.
God wanted to play a pivotal role, a key or major role, in the affairs of your life. And If that would happen and be allowed by you, It would start with acknowledging Him in all you want to do. He does want to have a say-so in all the affairs of your life, as a believer in Christ Jesus.
I have seen people whom assignment would be delegated by their superiors or bosses, but instead of speaking for their bosses, they go ahead to speak for themselves.
In the passage, Jesus said whoever is speaking from himself or herself, their own thoughts or ideas, apart from what is given to them to say, is seeking his or her own glory. Many bosses have been betrayed by such disloyal subordinates—lieutenants or assistants (Titus 2:10).
Jesus Christ said further that he or she who seeks the glory of the one who sent him or her is true or genuine (John 7:18).
In Jesus' case, He was loyal to God the Father throughout His period on the earth; He was obedient till the point of death:
6 CHRIST HIMSELF WAS LIKE GOD IN EVERYTHING. But he did not think that being equal with God was something to be used for his own benefit. 7 BUT HE GAVE UP HIS PLACE WITH GOD AND MADE HIMSELF NOTHING. HE WAS BORN AS A MAN AND BECAME LIKE A SERVANT. 8 AND WHEN HE WAS LIVING AS A MAN, HE HUMBLED HIMSELF AND WAS FULLY OBEDIENT TO GOD, EVEN WHEN THAT CAUSED HIS DEATH—DEATH ON A CROSS" (Philippians 2:6-8 New Century Version).
He had to do that because He was not seeking His own personal glory but that of the Father—the God Who sent Him (John 7:18; 8:50).
If I may ask you, in that work you are doing, which you claimed was given to you by God; Who's Glory are you seeking? Are you seeking God's glory or that of the self?
By the way;
a. what does it mean to seek God's glory? b. And, how does someone seek God's glory?
The Greek word for the word translated glory in the text of this teaching is "doxa" and it means dignity, glory (-ious), honour, praise, or worship.
When we say: What does it mean to seek God's glory? It means to seek God's honour, praise, worship, and glory.
Then, the next is: How does someone seek God's glory? You do that when everything you do as a believer is geared towards God's honour, praise and worship. In other words, your life, how you live your life should be mainly to serve His interest which would be for His praise and honour (2 Corinthians 5:15; 1 Peter 4:2).
Whatever you are assigned to do should be done that God's name might be praised, honoured, worshiped, and glorified. This is purposeful living. That was how Jesus Christ lived His life whilst He was here on the planet earth. And He left us an example to follow (Philippians 2:5; 1 Peter 2:21; Hebrews 12:2).
Peace.