My friends if you want to always be blessed, then may I suggest that in everything you do, do it all for the glory of God. The Westminster Shorter Catechism asks the question, “What is the chief end of man?” It then goes on to answer the question as follows: “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.” Scripture also tells us: “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31). So, whether you are doing big or small things, the key is to do it all for the glory of God.
And when we speak about God’s glory, Rick Warren, puts it this way: “But we are commanded to recognize his glory, honor his glory, declare his glory, praise his glory, reflect his glory, and live for his glory. Why? Because God deserves it! We owe him every honor we can possibly give. Since God made all things, he deserves all the glory. The Bible says, ‘You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created everything.’”1
Giving God all the glory in everything we do is not just a nice thing to do. According to (1 Corinthians 10:31) above, we are commanded to glorify God in everything! And according to Rick Warren the reason is simple: God deserves it! Since God created and maintains everything, He deserves all the glory.
Let’s briefly look at some of the ways we are commanded, according to Rick Warren, to glorify the Lord.
First, we are to recognize His glory. It is so important to understand and recognize that Jesus is the Lord of glory and that there is no other that deserves glory but Him.
Second, we are to honor His glory. Jesus deserves to be honored above everyone else because of who He is and what He does. He deserves all the accolades we can think of.
Third, we are to declare His glory. As Christ’s ambassadors our high calling is to declare to all the world that Jesus must always be glorified in everything.
Fourth, we are to praise His glory. Not only are we to declare His glory, but we need to shout it from the rooftops so all the world will know that Jesus is Lord. Just read (Psalm 150) and you will see why we need to always praise the Lord.
Fifth, we are to reflect His glory. Just as a lighthouse reflects light to everything around it, we are to reflect our Lord’s glory to everyone we encounter.
And sixth, we are to live for His glory. As Christians our whole lives should be consumed with one overarching passion – to live for the glory of Christ. I believe when we do this, we fulfill our created destiny and in return we will experience the great joy of the Lord, both now and forever!
To glorify God – As a follower of Christ, that should be your greatest desire, your highest passion, your overarching goal, and your most wonderful privilege. If it isn’t, then I pray you will ask God to open your eyes, enlightened your mind, and burden your heart to make it so!
1 Rick Warren – But we are commanded to recognize his glory,…
Curt’s essay gives the right foundation. Everything is to be done for God’s glory, because glory is not a courtesy offered to God but the rightful response to who He is.
How Are We to Treat God: His movements – recognize, honor, declare, praise, reflect, and live for His glory – give us room to sharpen the apologetic edge.
How Are We to Treat God?
God Is Not a Guest in His Own Creation.
We do not “treat” God well by acknowledging Him when it’s convenient. We treat Him rightly when we recognize that everything already belongs to Him, including us.
1. God Is Not Looking for Our Approval.
Modern man has developed the peculiar habit of putting God on trial and then congratulating himself for being fair-minded.
Scripture reverses the courtroom.
“The earth is the LORD’s, and all it contains” (Psalm 24:1). God is not a guest waiting politely at the edge of our lives. He is Creator, King, Judge, Redeemer, and the One “worthy…to receive glory and honor and power” because He created all things (Revelation 4:11).
We do not validate God. God validates us.
2. Glory Requires More Than Applause.
Paul writes, “Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).
That reaches considerably deeper than singing louder on Sunday.
To glorify God means our theology grows hands and feet. We honor Him by obedience, integrity, repentance, courage, mercy, truth, and worship. Romans 12:1 calls the surrendered life itself an act of worship.
God does not merely want a compliment.
He wants the throne. It’s His, after all.
3. Kill What Competes for It. Here is the harder edge. Reality apologetics cannot ignore that there was at once/in history, a heavenly battle of good v evil. Evil got it’s butt kicked. Lotta angels became demons cuz they chose the wrong masta.
It’s not much different nowadays, is it? Pride wants the throne. Sin wants the throne. Fear, appetite, resentment, money, reputation, and self-rule all keep submitting applications for the throne.
Scripture’s response is not negotiation: “Put to death…what is earthly in you” (Colossians 3:5). Does That read soft and gentle to you?
So keep the old battlefield reminder, but aim it biblically:
If it is evil and it bleeds, kill it.
Not people. Kill the lie. Eliminate the pride. Sever the cherished sin. Remove whatever keeps crawling between the soul and the glory of God.
Christians are not called to decorate darkness. We are called to walk in the Light. Not gently.
God is not one priority among many. He is the reason priorities exist. God does not ask for a place in your life. He made the life, owns the table, and sits at the head of it.