"…He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth." II Cor. 10:17-18
There is an interesting text in the opening chapter of Romans that speaks to the present calamity of the human situation: "…When they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools…" (Rom. 1:21-22). When Adam was successfully tempted to self-glorification, he opened the "Pandora's box" that essentially destroyed the human race. The greater tragedy lies in the fact that 10,000 years (more or less) of human experience since has not led man to recognize the folly of pride and the virtue of that humility that recognizes and rejoices in utter dependence upon God.
Even greater is the tragedy that many professing Christians have not learned the lesson, either. Pride was a problem in the church at Corinth, and it is a spiritual cancer with death-dealing potential in many a local church today, the clear teaching of scripture notwithstanding. Hence the apostle's exhortation in our text for today, "He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord."
Warnings to this end are abundant in scripture, both in precept and example. A favorite verse of a pastor and friend of mind is, "Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom (Prov. 13:10)." In fact, the book of Proverbs is replete with such counsel. "When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom (11:2)." "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud (16:18)." And again, "A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit (29:23)."
The logic for this is not hard to find. Through the apostle Peter the Holy Spirit writes, "For all flesh is grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away… (I Pet. 1:24)." Regardless of his talent, man faces an inevitable appointment with death, the great leveler, "and after this the judgment." The real question is not what his achievements may be in the eyes of men, or in his own eyes, but in God's eyes. Regardless of whether he be a preacher or a plumber, if his works have been generated in the "flesh," they will have no endorsement from God, and add up to "nothing." And if they were generated in the "spirit," then it is God Who is the author, and the glory belongs to Him, not the agent. Thus it behooves man to seek God's glory, not his own.
Jeremiah said it earlier: "Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD (Jer. 9:24-25)."
The apostle Paul not only expounded it,but he exemplified it when he said, "But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world (Gal. 6:14)." He did not minister to impress people with his ministry, but only to impress sinners with the Savior, and saints with their responsibility to the Redeemer.
The supreme example, of course, is the Savior Himself. He said, "I seek not mine own glory: there is One that seeketh and judgeth…If I honor myself, my honor is nothing: it is my Father that honoreth Me; of Whom ye say that He is your God… (John 8:50, 54)."
Humbled under "the mighty hand of God," Nebuchadnezzar, builder and boaster of "Great Babylon," finally got it right: "And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured Him that liveth forever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation: And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and He doeth according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay His hand, or say to Him, What doest Thou…Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and His ways judgment: and those that walk in pride He is able to abase (Dan. 4:34-37)."
As our text for today would indicate, it is a lesson God wants us all to learn!
Yours for HIS glory,
"Pastor" Frasier
There is an interesting text in the opening chapter of Romans that speaks to the present calamity of the human situation: "…When they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools…" (Rom. 1:21-22). When Adam was successfully tempted to self-glorification, he opened the "Pandora's box" that essentially destroyed the human race. The greater tragedy lies in the fact that 10,000 years (more or less) of human experience since has not led man to recognize the folly of pride and the virtue of that humility that recognizes and rejoices in utter dependence upon God.
Even greater is the tragedy that many professing Christians have not learned the lesson, either. Pride was a problem in the church at Corinth, and it is a spiritual cancer with death-dealing potential in many a local church today, the clear teaching of scripture notwithstanding. Hence the apostle's exhortation in our text for today, "He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord."
Warnings to this end are abundant in scripture, both in precept and example. A favorite verse of a pastor and friend of mind is, "Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom (Prov. 13:10)." In fact, the book of Proverbs is replete with such counsel. "When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom (11:2)." "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud (16:18)." And again, "A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit (29:23)."
The logic for this is not hard to find. Through the apostle Peter the Holy Spirit writes, "For all flesh is grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away… (I Pet. 1:24)." Regardless of his talent, man faces an inevitable appointment with death, the great leveler, "and after this the judgment." The real question is not what his achievements may be in the eyes of men, or in his own eyes, but in God's eyes. Regardless of whether he be a preacher or a plumber, if his works have been generated in the "flesh," they will have no endorsement from God, and add up to "nothing." And if they were generated in the "spirit," then it is God Who is the author, and the glory belongs to Him, not the agent. Thus it behooves man to seek God's glory, not his own.
Jeremiah said it earlier: "Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD (Jer. 9:24-25)."
The apostle Paul not only expounded it,but he exemplified it when he said, "But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world (Gal. 6:14)." He did not minister to impress people with his ministry, but only to impress sinners with the Savior, and saints with their responsibility to the Redeemer.
The supreme example, of course, is the Savior Himself. He said, "I seek not mine own glory: there is One that seeketh and judgeth…If I honor myself, my honor is nothing: it is my Father that honoreth Me; of Whom ye say that He is your God… (John 8:50, 54)."
Humbled under "the mighty hand of God," Nebuchadnezzar, builder and boaster of "Great Babylon," finally got it right: "And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured Him that liveth forever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation: And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and He doeth according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay His hand, or say to Him, What doest Thou…Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and His ways judgment: and those that walk in pride He is able to abase (Dan. 4:34-37)."
As our text for today would indicate, it is a lesson God wants us all to learn!
Yours for HIS glory,
"Pastor" Frasier
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