Bring Glory to God

And there it is, the ultimate goal of every leader and every Christian for that matter, bring glory to God. Too often we are out there looking for the direction or next goal to pursue. We are searching to be be on top or at least be headed that way. When actually we should be seeking to bring glory to the LORD and for us as Christians, that is all. Now as leaders we should also be seeking spiritual maturity and creating new leaders to round out the goals of it all, but the ultimate goal is still to bring glory to God.

Even Jesus did not look to bring glory to himself but for God (John 8:50). The goal of Jesus was to carry out the will of the Father here in this world. He sought the Father’s guidance at every turn, and where His spiritual maturity was well established He did provide for us the pattern to follow in our own growth. And let’s think about it, Jesus taught, not just so others would learn, but so they could take over for Him when He was gone. He created future leaders.

Now, how and when are we to bring glory to God. Well, that is a tough one to answer definitively as for each of us has a different role to play and frankly any number of gifts give by the Holy Spirit. But, regardless of those gifts and/or role, we are to use them to take action (1 Corinthians 10:31). We are not to sit on the sidelines and wait for someone else to do the work we are assigned by God. As spiritual leaders, we are to be in the work and not just directing the work. We have tasks to complete as well as the goals to achieve. Remember those goals start with bringing glory to God and out from there. We are to be taking action to achieve the goal.

And when do we bring glory to God, ALWAYS. At every moment of every day we are to be working to bring glory to God. Not just when things are going well or we are in church worshiping, but always. There will be times when we will be having a bad time of it or suffering and our approach and continued rejoicing will bring glory to God (1 Peter 4:13). Whatever we are doing or experiencing, we are working to accomplish the goal of bringing glory to God.

And there it is. The role as Henry & Richard Blackaby indicate, “Spiritual leadership is moving people on to God’s agenda”. This is done by working toward the three goal of, 1. “Bringing Glory to God”, 2. “Spiritual Maturity”, and 3. “Leading Others to Lead”.

What is your first and most important goal as a leader? Are you looking to rise up and be recognized for the work your doing? What if you were to start all things with the number one goal of “Bringing Glory to God”?

Desire the Higher Gifts

Each morning as I study I am introduced to something that I was not thinking of before. This morning is not really any different. I have stated that one should only desire the LORD and yet this morning as I continue with the study of the word “desire” I see that I should desire higher things.

“³¹But earnestly desire the higher gifts.

And I will show you a still more excellent way.” – 1 Corinthians 12:31 (ESV)

So, how does it work I ask. I am to desire the LORD and yet desire higher things. So confusing when you are not looking at the whole picture.

These “higher things” are of the LORD and not of the world. That is the way. I am to desire the LORD and all that He has and will give. He will provide all that I “need”. The “higher things” here are gifts that only he can give to us and I have to desire the gifts that He has for me, which may be different than my neighbor.

“²⁷Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. ²⁸And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. ²⁹Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? ³⁰Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?” – 1 Corinthians 12:27-30 (ESV)

Not all of us can be healers. Not all of us can be teachers. Not all of us will be administrators. We each have our role in the church and that is what we should desire, the gift that the LORD has for us based on our role He has tasked us.

“¹Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.” – 1 Corinthians 14:1 (ESV)

Paul gives additional insight into that which we are to desire in his letter, “spiritual gifts”. These gifts will be different for each of us and that is what we should seek from the LORD. It is easy to see that which others have and think that we should have that as well. But doesn’t that broach the idea of covetousness? So my previous learning related to the word “desire” is correct even now. I am to “Desire the LORD” and “Stay as You Are” and “Desire the Higher Gifts” as are the titles to some of my recent posts.

What is your view of desiring? Are you still of the idea that you should desire more? What if you focused your desire on the LORD and the higher things that only He can/will provide for you?

For One Body of Christ

“⁸Therefore it says,

‘When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,

and he gave gifts to men.’

¹¹And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, ¹²to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,” — Ephesians 4:8, 11-12 (ESV)

Paul again calls out that which is for One Body of Christ. There are gifts given to men like those identified in verse 11 above. These gifts may be of or for an individual or a set of different individuals in support of the work of bringing the gospel to the world. Either way, they are for One Body of Christ.

I forget that gifts are necessarily those tangible items for the one. They may be in support of or things we may not really know. There are time we are not granted things and that is the gift. Such as arriving on time to places. If we would have been 2 minutes earlier, we may have been the one in an accident as opposed to just simply coming upon the accident. The delay was the gift and that is for One Body of Christ as He likely has something in mind that I am meant to be a part.

I have to be open to all that is so that I am able to apply it to the work I am doing to spread the gospel. I am just one part of One Body of Christ. I am doing work at God’s design and that work is where I will find the gifts He has for me.

What work are you doing for Christ? Are you aware of the gifts He provides? What if you were to accept all as the gifts and know that you are part of One Body of Christ and you do all for the One Body of Christ?

Do Your Part

The story is told that President Kennedy went to NASA and casually asked a janitor what his job was and the janitor answered that he was helping put a man on the moon. Now I do not want to debate the legitimacy of the story, only want to call out the janitor for understanding and doing his part of the whole.

“⁴For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, ⁵so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” – Romans 12:4-5 (ESV)

Each of us has a talent or gift that was provided by God. And that gift is for a certain purpose. Where it may not feel as though our part is making a huge dent in the overall spreading of the gospel, it is just as important as the others. The janitor knew that his role was just as important as others in the overall goal of putting a man on the moon. I have been tasked with reaching a certain set or even one individual with the gospel. I may not even know that person and that is okay by me. It does not change the goal of reaching everyone with the gospel.

I have to remember to continue to do my part as tasked by the LORD. My small part is just as important as that of those who are more visible like Billy and Franklin Graham, the Pope, and the leaders of great organizations in the faith. My task may simply be to reach those who do not know of those visible. I may be tasked to meat those who have logged onto the internet and do a search for a topic I have studied. I may be simply the one to put the information out there and allowing God to get it to those who need it. Like the janitor, I may be here to pick up all that which seems to have fallen aside and ensure that it gets to where it is supposed to be. I may be here to keep the path clean, making it easier for others to reach those in need. I have to do my part, whatever that part may be.

I know that I have spoken of my role in our church that is still borrowing space. I am one that helps to “tear down” or “clean up” the space we borrow at the end of the day’s services. It is not a glamorous job and frankly, most don’t even know that I am there and have actually done anything. But, like the janitor, my job is important to the ensuring that we do not wear out our welcome in the space so that we are able to continue using that space to spread the gospel. I am there to do my part even when that part does not seem to be that significant to the visual aspect of spreading the gospel.

As members of the body of Christ, we all may have a different function. One may be visible and another not so much. Yet, the goal is still the same, and none of the jobs are of less significance than the other. We all have to do our part for the glory of God.

What is your part? Are you concerned that you are not getting the recognition that you feel you should for the work you do? What if you were to be like the janitor and did your work knowing that it was important in the spreading of the Gospel?

Reconcile Then Bring Your Gift to God

I have shifted from studying the word word “works” to the word “gift”. This morning I was taken to a passage that was a bit unexpected, Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount as He speaks about anger. Gifts and anger, what would God have for me this morning. Well here are the verses dealing with gifts.

“²³So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, ²⁴leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” — Matthew 5:23-24 (ESV)

Jesus reminds me here to be sure that I am fully reconciled before I bring my gift to Him. My heart must be clear of any of the distractions and aches that will cause me to remove my eyes from Him even for a moment. That requires that I have nothing hanging over me and that I am able to engage with Him and Him alone.

I am especially fond of the first part of verse 24, “leave your gift there…and go”. I know that I have this innate drive to finish one thing before moving on to the other and just leaving something to go to something else seems a bit counter productive. The thing is, I have left the issue with another undone and moved on to bringing a gift to God. I have proceeded contrary to my own innate drive.

I must get back to the place where I am not leaving anything undone before moving to the next. I have to remember to reconcile and then move to the next. I have to get my heart right before coming to the Lord with my gift. I have to remember that by getting right with others, I am taking the self out of the equation. I am not doing it for me, although I benefit from a right heart, I am doing it for the other to show my repentance and demonstrating the example of Christ.

Jesus reconciled with the people before He was put to death and became the gift of sacrifice. There was nothing left undone that was not to be left undone. He completed His work to that point and moved on to the next which was dying on the cross for each of us, the ultimate gift of selflessness.

I am bound to God through the gift of salvation and I am due to gift back to Him. I have to remember to leave nothing undone and no reconciliation incomplete. I have to get right before I gift to the LORD.

How are you coming to the alter? Are you coming with things left undone? What if you completed all thing and was fully reconciled so that you come to the LORD with a clear heart and a beautiful gift?

Mercy is a Gift/Talent

God has graced us all with gifts and talents that are to be used to His glory. Some of these are known and are very visible to the outside world. Teaching, speaking, praying, singing, athletic ability are some of those that when mentioned I know that I can see them in my minds eye in people that I know. These gifts and talents are used by the individual, not for their own selfish gain, but to bring glory to God. Teaching to bring knowledge and growth to others that they may not have received based on their current station in life. Singing to bring joy to the life of another that finds themselves in a difficult spot. Displaying athletic ability and yet remaining humble and reverent as an outward demonstration of God’s glory and not self-aggrandizement.

There are other gifts and talents that are not so visible to others.

“⁶Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; ⁷if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; ⁸the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.” — Romans 12:6-8 (ESV)

Serving others, exhorting the LORD, leading others, and providing mercy. I do not see these gifts on the regular, although that does not mean they are not happening. In fact, these gifts and talents are sometimes seen as weak and inconsequential, until someone needs them. Service for instance is one that is great in the eyes of God, yet those who serve are often taken advantage of and expected to do more without reward. Leading others using the love of Christ is viewed as weak and soft in the eyes of some and those who lead this way are often overlooked those who are more demonstrative. Mercy is one that we are all to provide as instructed by Jesus, yet those who provide mercy in the world are often considered lacking toughness.

All gifts and talents given by God are useful and necessary to bring glory to Him. Where we are all to take these actions to bring glory to God, some are gifted in those area and I have to remember to be on the look out for them and celebrate those gifts and talent with those who are displaying them.

I read somewhere once before and believe if wholeheartedly, “if you see something you like, recognize it and you will see more of it”. I have to remember that with the gifts and talents provided by God. I have to see more of those gifts and talents that are provided by God and recognize them as being great. When I do, those displaying the gifts and talents will be more inclined to do more of the same with confidence knowing that they are indeed doing the work of God using that which He provided them.

What gifts and talents do you have? Are you seeing gifts and talents in others? What if you were to see the gifts and talents of others and recognize them to lift up those demonstrating them, no matter how insignificant they may seem?

Mercy is Greater

Money and monetary gifts are important as they allow the acquisition of other things. In the gift giving seasons, we make it a habit to give expensive items to “show” how much we care for the other. Where it is good and right to “show” that we care for others and provide for their monetary needs, it is their other needs that should be of more concern for us.

“²³Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. ²⁴You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!” — Matthew 23:23-24 (ESV)

Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees here and giving them a basic scolding on the lack of actions that they take while telling others they should be more mindful to do the right things. Jesus is explaining to them that they are the proverbial “do as I say” people. In the above verses, Jesus exclaims the woe in their actions of giving some “monetary” gifts (as spices where used as currency in this time) and yet they were neglecting the more thoughtful and useful gifts of justice, mercy, and faithfulness.

It is easy to simply “cut a check” for something and difficult to provide something more. I look at those who do charity work and those who are credited with charity work. Those donors are celebrated for providing for the charity work to be done, yet when the work really needs to be done, they are off jet setting around the world and are not bothered with getting their hands dirty. Those who do the work are struggling to get by financially, but are living the high life thanks to their giving of themselves and the fulfillment that comes with it.

Now I am not saying that the giving monetarily is not needed, as I noted above, this is how the purchase of goods and services come about. But as Jesus says, “the weightier matters of the law; justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.” It is the giving of these gifts to support the whole of the others that is more important than the monetary.

Mercy is better than money. Justice is better than money. Faithfulness is better than money. Each of these provide more to the individual than money and they demonstrate more thoughtful and sincere giving than just cutting the check. I have to remember to give of myself and not just of my pocketbook. I have to provide for the other needs of the individual and not just the monetary needs.

What gifts have you given simply because they were easy? Are you neglecting the other needs of the individuals? What if you gave the easy and then provided for the more difficult “weightier matters” in the individual’s lives, “justice and mercy and faithfulness”?