The Problem is ME!

Isn't it amazing just how easily we turn on God's foundational command that we love Him above all else with all our heart, soul, mind and strength? There's a reason this command is the first. God deserves, expects and demands that we glorify Him more than anything/anyone else. However, while we affirm the command, recite and teach it, we regularly disregard this foundational command and truth. We readily substitute our will, desire, opinions and thoughts for God's. Sin is like that, it blinds us to spiritual truths. We regularly shift glory for God to things, or people without even realizing it. While it is nearly always subtle and unintentional we don't get a pass on our obligation to put God first.

In a chapter on sin, Tim Keller writes in his classic, "The Reason for God":

To glorify something or someone is to praise, enjoy, and delight in them. When something is useful you are attracted to it for what it can bring you or do for you. But if it is beautiful, then you enjoy it simply for what it is. Just being in its presence is its own reward. To glorify someone is also to serve or defer to him or her. Instead of sacrificing their interests to make yourself happy, you sacrifice your interests to make them happy. Why? Your ultimate joy is to see them in joy (p. 223).

In self-centeredness we demand that others orbit around us (p. 223).

Idolatry is rampant. Oh sure, we aren't building calves of gold in the desert, but we delude ourselves if we can't realize the "altars to self" we build every day. Think about it. Someone says something that hurts, or offends us and most of us default to self-defense. Something doesn't go our way at work, with our family, or small group and suddenly it's wrong. Is it really? May it's not totally wrong. And even if it is wrong, does my response show preference for God's glory, or self-protection/preservation? Is my worldview so warped by self that I can't see it?

Just look around. We are consumed with self-expression. You don't have to spend more than 10 minutes reading Tweets, and Face Book postings to see the truth in Keller's statement that, "In self-centeredness we demand that others orbit around us." Easy, this isn't a rant on social media, think about it, I'm writing this in a blog, my blog. And if I'm honest, I have to admit that while I attempt to bring glory to God through this blog, personal opinion, views and feelings often drive the bus more than God's glory. Isaiah's words are haunting here (Isa. 56:11b): ..."they have all turned to their own way, each one to his own gain, one and all."

There's nothing wrong with expressing an opinion, or sharing our feelings. However, we've got to admit that the lines are getting blurred among Christ-followers when it comes to expressing ourselves and putting God first. More and more people base their affiliations, service and connection to a faith community, job, leisure interest, or social circle on what's in it for them as opposed to what they can offer, give, or contribute. Pagan cultures have always put self above anything else, but God's people have been given the opportunity to put something bigger than self at the center of our actions and attitudes: God's glory, delight and will.

I don't have easy answers for this struggle, but every day I see the difference service and grace make in this area. When you serve you invest your time, energy, talents and resources. You are part of something bigger than yourself. Look around, the self-absorbed rarely have their sleeves rolled up. Instead, their arms are often folded, or worse, they are pointing fingers. Similarly, extending grace to others is a game changer. When we offer grace to people we perceive have hurt us, or with whom we disagree, we practice the very essence of what God has done toward each of us through Christ in light of our sin. Perhaps the secret to pursuing God's glory is simply to serve others and really practice unconditional love. The image of Jesus washing dirty, stinky feet on the night of His betrayal is quite sobering. No "self" in that picture. I need to wash more feet!