> The Bible is clear that God seeks glory for Himself and that He alone deserves it. This is not because God is egotistical or in need of our praise, but because He is the most glorious being in existence. When God glorifies Himself, He is acting in accordance with His perfect nature and leading us to what is best for usโnamely, to recognize and delight in His infinite worth.
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Godโs Glory in Scripture
The theme of Godโs glory runs throughout Scripture, starting from creation itself. The psalmist declares:
โThe heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiworkโ (Psalm 19:1, ESV).
Everything God has made reflects His gloryโHis beauty, power, and majesty. But God desires more than just the passive reflection of His glory in creation. He seeks the active glorification that comes from His creatures praising Him with hearts full of love, awe, and reverence.
In Isaiah, God explicitly reveals that He created and redeemed His people for His glory:
โEveryone who is called by My name, whom I created for My glory, whom I formed and madeโ (Isaiah 43:7).
This tells us that the purpose of human lifeโand all of creationโis to bring glory to God. In redeeming us through Christ, God once again demonstrates His commitment to glorifying Himself. Ephesians 1:12 says that Godโs redemptive work was so โthat we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of His glory.โ
Why God Deserves Glory
God deserves glory because of who He isโHe is the Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer of all things. The Apostle Paul, after reflecting on the depth of Godโs wisdom and ways, breaks out in praise:
โFor from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amenโ (Romans 11:36).
Paulโs declaration reminds us that everything that exists comes from God, is sustained by Him, and will ultimately return to Him. This is why God deserves all glory: He is the source of all life and goodness, and He alone is truly worthy of worship.
The Westminster Shorter Catechism famously summarizes the Christian understanding of human purpose in this way: โManโs chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.โ In other words, Godโs glory is not just an external recognition of His greatnessโit is meant to be a source of eternal joy and satisfaction for those who know and love Him.
God Wants Glory for Himself Because It Is Good for Us
When God desires glory for Himself, He is not selfish. On the contrary, God seeking His own glory is the most loving thing He can do for His creation. Why? Because in glorifying God, we come to know and experience Him more fully, and He is the highest and greatest good.
John Piper, in his book *Desiring God*, explains it this way:
โGod is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.โ
This concept is transformative. Godโs pursuit of His own glory is also His pursuit of our joy, for the greatest joy we can experience is found in knowing and worshiping God. When we glorify Him, we are aligning ourselves with reality, recognizing the worth of the most glorious being, and drawing nearer to the source of all true joy.
The Glory of God Revealed in Christ
The clearest revelation of Godโs glory is in Jesus Christ. In His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus displayed the glory of Godโs love, justice, holiness, and power. John writes:
โAnd the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truthโ (John 1:14).
Christโs perfect obedience to the Father, even to the point of death on the cross, was the ultimate act of glorifying God. As Jesus approached the cross, He prayed:
โFather, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify Youโ (John 17:1).
In His sacrificial death, Jesus both glorified the Father by fulfilling His redemptive plan and revealed the depths of Godโs glory in His grace and mercy. And because Christ was obedient to the Father, God glorified Him in His resurrection and exaltation, giving Him โthe name that is above every nameโ (Philippians 2:9).
Our Response: Live for Godโs Glory
As Christians, our response to Godโs glory is to live in such a way that reflects and honors Him. This is not just an abstract idea but a concrete call to action. Paul urges believers:
โSo, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of Godโ (1 Corinthians 10:31).
Glorifying God means making Him the ultimate purpose of every action, thought, and word. It means turning away from self-centeredness and idolatry and instead seeking to magnify Godโs worth in our lives.
Jonathan Edwards, a leading figure in the Great Awakening, emphasized that glorifying God is the essence of true religion. He wrote:
โThe glory of God is the ultimate end of all His works in creation and providence. All that is ever spoken of in the Scripture as an ultimate end of Godโs works is included in that one phrase, the glory of God.โ
Conclusion
God deserves and desires glory because He is the most glorious being in existence, and He alone is worthy of all honor, praise, and adoration. His seeking of glory is not selfish but is instead for our ultimate good. When we glorify God, we are fulfilling the purpose for which we were created, and we are entering into the joy of knowing and delighting in Him. Through Christ, we see the fullest revelation of Godโs glory, and as followers of Jesus, we are called to reflect that glory in everything we do.
Let us, therefore, join with all creation and the redeemed in saying, โTo Him be glory forever. Amenโ (Romans 11:36).
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