Emptiness of Self Glory

Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and obey his word. John 8:54-55

There’s no question that we live in a world that promotes self. The simple fact that your phone most likely has a forward-facing camera to make selfies more convenient says it all. Celebrations on an athletic field, the constant selling of self on social media, and the many other ways men seek their glory are present at every turn. The Perfect Man had no concern to glorify self. Think about those words for a moment. A man who had every reason to self-glorify says that doing so would mean absolutely nothing.

As men, we would do well to emulate the attitude of Jesus. This is a posture that is not self-inflating or glorifying, rather it is a completely humble posture that seeks to “acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:11). The object of any glory should be God Himself. Rest assured all men will have to do something with glory. Giving this to God will always be productive while pointing glory back at self will always mean nothing.

DO THIS TODAY: Give God the glory for five specific things in your life.