It is a dangerous thing to judge the motives of another person.  While we may observe their actions, we can never really understand their heart, where motives take root and eventually manifest in imprecise forms.  Frankly, even our own motives can be confusing as we journey in this fallen world.  We play “hide-and-go-seek” games with each other and often cover up and convolute the real issues of our hearts because of the insecurity of our sinfulness.

The Apostle Paul even expressed caution about judging his own motives (and the hearts of others) when he wrote:

“In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord.  Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one's praise will come from God“ (1 Corinthians 4:3-5).

So, when I write of evaluating God’s motives it could seem like first-class blasphemy – UNLESS God has chosen to clearly reveal the truth and clarity of His pure and unpolluted heart to us.  Then it is a matter of understanding and embracing what the self-revealing God has already made clear.  I believe He has made His motives abundantly obvious in the Bible.  A wise and mature Christ-follower is well-advised to understand this and aggressively apply it to everyday living.

His Own Glory!

I believe the Bible is very clear that God’s motive is His own glory.  Now, any time fallen flesh seeks its own glory it is polluted with sin and pride.  But God’s glory is ultimately beautiful, good, and life-giving.  It is an expression of His absolute holiness.

In all that He does, His motive is His glory.  In the Christmas story, the multitude of the heavenly host made it clear as they were praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest….“ The coming of the Messiah, the manger story, and the entire life and work of Christ was motivated by God’s glory.  At the end of His earthly journey, just prior to the cross, Jesus prayed, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You…I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.  And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was“(John 17:1, 4-5).

Paul Got It!

In his inspired writings about our salvation, Paul wrote that it is all “to the praise of His glory” (Ephesians 1:11-12, 14).  Commenting on his ambition in life Paul reflected, “With all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.  For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:20-21).  He knew that while God was compassionate and good, caring about every detail of Paul’s life or death, God’s chief concern was His glory, not Paul’s easy, comfortable life.

Our Application

So how should this powerful truth about God’s motivation in everything He does affect the way we live?  Here are four applications of what happens when we understand and really embrace God’s glory.

1.       It helps us embrace our PURPPOSE on this earth

The framers of the Westminster Catechism got it right in the 1600’s when they wrote that the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. What motivates God should motivate us in all we do.  Isaiah 43:7 affirms, “Everyone who is called by My name, whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him."

Mankind’s depravity is rooted in our failure to embrace His glory.  Romans 1:20-23 tells us, “Although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man….“ Salvation restores our passion for His glory.  “For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's” (1 Corinthians 6:20). At the end of eleven chapters of profound theological teaching on the doctrine of our salvation, Paul declares, “For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen” (Romans 11:36).  This is our purpose for existence and in every enterprise.

2.      It helps us understand His PRIORITIES in human experience

As we have already seen in the examples of Jesus and Paul, even in the face of death, the priority was not survival, earthly satisfaction, or a life of ease.  The priority in all things was God’s glory.  First Corinthians 10:31 commands us, “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

As we make daily decisions, interact with people, and react to circumstances it is wise to remember God’s priority as supreme over our own self-infected understanding of what really matters.  The songwriter said it so well in penning these lyrics: “It's all about You, Jesus. And all this is for You, for Your glory and Your fame. It's not about me, as if You should do things my way. You alone are God and I surrender to Your ways.”

3.      It gives us a standard for evaluating our PURSUITS in this life

Christians can be very ambitious and enterprising people, but not always for His glory.  As believers, we will all stand someday before the Judgment Seat of Christ where everything we have done will be evaluated based on how it brought Him pleasure (2 Corinthians 5:9-10).  The Bible tells us our work will be evaluated based on what “sort” it was, not what “size” it was or how “successful” in man’s eyes. (See 1 Corinthians 3:12-15.) 

Understanding God’s motivation for His own glory gives us a standard for evaluating what we do, why we do it, and for whom we do it.  Paul had it right when he described authentic Christ-followers as those who “worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh” (Philippians 3:3-4).  Paul reminds us that our passion in Christian living would be that “no flesh should glory in His presence,” coupled with the reminder, "He who glories, let him glory in the LORD” (1 Corinthians 1:29-31).  Likewise, the Apostle Peter tells us that all of our serving and speaking should be done with the ability God supplies (not our own ambition or skill) so that “in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever” (1 Peter 4:9-11).

4.      It gives us a framework for solving our PERPLEXITIES in life

We often remember Job’s understanding of God’s glory when his world fell apart, yet he still proclaimed, “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away.  Blessed be the name of the Lord.”  In a similar way, Peter counsels persecuted and suffering Christians with these words: “If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified” (1 Peter 4:14-15).

Our lives are filled with perplexities, problems, and pain.  Even in this Christmas season, many believers deal with loneliness, fear, depression, and despondency.  But in all of this, we must understand and trust God’s heart for His glory in our lives.  As we go deeper into our abiding relationship with Christ, not trusting our flesh, we can experience the truth Jesus proclaimed: “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples” (John 15:8).   

Provision and Passion

We should be encouraged by the fact that God has filled His Word with the truth of His glory.  We can take time to study this overarching truth and allow it to renew our minds each day.  We also know He has provided for us by putting His resident tutor in our hearts, to help us understand and embrace His glory.  As Jesus said about the Holy Spirit, “He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you” (John 16:14).

Let us make this our passion this Christmas season as we think of the declaration of the angels: “Glory to God in the highest….” And when it is all said and done, and this brief earthly journey has ended, may it be said of us, as Paul was able to say of himself, “And they gave glory to God because of me” (Galatians 1:24 – NLT).

Copyright © 2008 Daniel Henderson. All rights reserved.