Glory Thieves

As a head coach prepares his or her team for victory, preparation includes studying the opponent’s tendencies and movements. He or she makes a game plan and decides what direction to go. The team works endlessly, practicing plays, making adjustments, and fine-tuning each position. 

When the competition begins, the coach calls the play, and the team executes it together. The studying, practicing, and adjusting all accumulate into the moment they execute the play! Finally, when the team runs the play to perfection, they experience a victorious moment! The scoring player grabs their teammates, and together, they mob their coach in praise! They lift up the coach as the incredible playmaker, the wise and true king of play-calling!

WRONG! We all know that doesn’t happen! Typically, the player who scores then struts, dances, and points to himself or herself as he or she seeks all the attention. Meanwhile, the rest of the team gets ready for the next play. The coach should get the glory, but the player steals it.

God deserves the glory, not us. In the Bible, the wise men sought baby Jesus, the next King of the Jews. They approached King Herod, who then wanted to destroy Jesus. Simply put, Herod was a glory seeker, and the wise men were seeking the One who deserved the glory (s2 Corinthians 5:15).

Sin separates us from God and draws us from God’s glory to our glory. Sin is all about living for ourselves. The sad news is that we are selfish. We want attention, pats on the back, “likes” on our social media posts, promotions, pity parties, and more. 

Do a self-evaluation today and ask yourself, “Who deserves all the glory, and who is getting all the glory?” Don’t try to take what doesn’t belong to you. Give God all the glory!