…. for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God. John 12:43
We all like to hear stories of individuals achieving personal glory. For many people, these stories become a source of inspiration to pursue fame. However, building a good name requires others to be impressed. Since the quest for glory feeds off of others’ praise, it gets very frustrating and disappointing when people don’t appreciate or recognize one’s performance. In other words, living to pursue glory could easily become a very exhausting and vain quest.
But there’s a better way: the way of the upside-down Kingdom of God, the way of Jesus. And we can definitely learn from Him. To begin with, Jesus lived His earthly life with only one audience in mind: His Father. Jesus knew the Father loved Him (Jn. 3:35), and He was never worried about impressing or being rejected by simple men. Jesus was always focused and entirely devoted to the Father’s glory. As a result, He lived a very uncomplicated and purposeful life without worries and concerns about what others had to say. The kind of life that, as His followers, we should embrace.
To follow Jesus, one must be willing to live in His way, which includes committing to live for God’s glory and not caring about the praise of man. As mentioned before, the way of Jesus is a better way, but this doesn’t mean it is easier. Jesus’ invitation to follow Him requires the willingness to die to self (Gal. 2:20) and to hold to His Father’s will, just as He did (Jn. 6:38). In the end, embarking on the quest for the glory that comes from God, leads to a more fulfilling and unpretentious life.
May God give us the courage to live for His glory rather than seeking the glory of men.
Pastor Esteban Tapia