Many times we see people that do work for the Lord and they expect recognition for that work to be given them.  I am not saying that a “pat on the back” is a bad thing.  Yet this is often times not what is found.  We see a pat on the back, and the building of a monument.  This is wrong.  We need not to be doing things to seek glory for ourselves or for a reward on this earth.  We are told that if we remain faithful in the Lord we will have our reward in Heaven.  (Revelation 2:10) “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”  This should be the reward that we seek.  God deserves glory in those things, which we do in his name.  (Romans 11:36) “For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.”  (1 Corinthians 10:31) “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”  (Galatians 1:3-5) “Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

    There are those that we have as Biblical example that did things on the outward for the appearance and glory.  (Matthew 6:1-5) “Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.  But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.  And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.”  Have you ever been present in a service when a man lead a 20-minute prayer and in that prayer exalted himself rather than God?  It is a sad thing to see a real life Pharisee.  You do know what Christ said about those Pharisee’s?  (Matthew 5:20) “For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” 

     We must remember that we can be as proud of ourselves as we would like but that does not matter if the Lord has not commended us.  (2 Corinthians 10:16-18)
“To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand.  But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.  For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.” (Emphasis added B.Y.)    Please do remember that this article is not out to attack anyone’s personality but it should serve as a reminder for all of us that have a desire for acknowledgment to keep it in line with what God wants and he does not want us to be “Glory Seekers”! 

Pride is deadly and it will not keep us on an upward path.  (Psalms 73:6) “Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.”  (Proverbs 8:13) The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.  (Proverbs 11:2) “When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.”  (Proverbs 29:23) “A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.”  Above all warnings and disgust the Lord has for pride, some still let it in the way of their relationship with God.  Pride is not from or ordained by God and should not be a block for stumbling in the Christian walk.  Please remember that Glory is to God and not man, for we are servants of the Lord and not of our own bellies!
 
 
 

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