Give Away the Glory

Pride: the holding or hoarding of glory.

Have you seen the TV show "Hoarders?" The show tells the story of people who are hoarding things to the point of being absolutely unhealthy. The hoarding can be fueled by the fear of "not having enough" or running out of what they need to survive. The overcorrection looks like an accumulation. Over time, their belongings become worthless and even moldy.

This offers us a vivid picture of what hoarding glory in our hearts looks like. As coaches, we often receive the praise of others. We are celebrated for our achievements in and out of the arena. The question becomes: What will you do with the praise? Will you store this glory for yourself, or will you give it away?

Humility: allowing glory to flow through you.

While a prideful heart stores praise, the humble heart gives it away. It acts as a vehicle for God’s glory rather than just a receptacle. Think of a humble heart more like a strainer than a container. The strainer receives water, but ultimately, it passes through it. The only way that glory can pass through a person is if they have enough "holes" in them. These "holes" are our awareness and acknowledgement of our weaknesses. We need God.

"Each time he said, ‘My grace is all you need. "My power works best in weakness.’ But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.” – 2 Corinthians 12:9

The humble heart is not concerned about "running out" of praise because their security is found in the eyes of the Father. Psalm 34:15 says, "The eyes of the LORD watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help." The humble heart can live out of the abundance of God’s love rather than be captivated by scarcity and the fear of man.