Misplace Glory: Part Three

There are many elements of self-glorification. While exalting your personal knowledge and reason above God’s ways may be the initial step, vaunting ourselves against God takes on a variety of other forms as well.

As we see in the book of Daniel, not only did Belshazzar’s lack of regard for God’s word and His authority leave his kingdom devastated, but his disregard for the things dedicated to the Lord sealed his fate. Belshazzar’s second ‘no-no’ was bringing the vessels from the House of the Lord and using them for carnal purposes. The vessels he and his friends drank from had once been consecrated to the Lord and promised to be used only for the temple.

There are a number of ways in which we also misuse instruments designed for God’s glory. Let us first consider the account of the three servants in Matthew 25: “For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.”

Upon his return, the master found that the two men with five and two talents had doubled their worth. Note: doubling the talents did not benefit the servants directly. Instead, the two men used their talents and their abilities to better their master and his kingdom. The third man, who received one talent, hid his. Due to his refusal to use the talent to better the kingdom and his desire to hoard it to himself, it was taken from him.

While their talents were types of currency, we have talents today which aren’t so tawdry. Whether it is an ability to sing, to play an instrument, to handle finances, to landscape, or to influence others, we are all given talents and abilities by God. Indeed, if we will spend and be spent for the cause of Christ, not only will God bless us with more talents but our reward will be great one day!

Those who keep their talents for their own glorification—whether that means selling their skills to Hollywood, the record industry, the financial world, or for self-edification—will eventually lose what they had.

A second vessel that is intended for God’s use but is often misused by his people is our bodies. According to Romans 12:1, Paul admonished us to “present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Consider: Paul says this is our “reasonable” service. In layman’s terms, it means that offering our bodies to the Lord’s work in holiness is just the reasonable expectation—it’s not even super or amazing! It’s expected!

To be holy is to be pure, without spot or blemish, undivided in devotion. Titus 1:15, 16 says, “Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.”

To be acceptable means to meet requirements! In 2 Corinthians 6:16-18, we find that we are not to use our bodies to glorify the world: “And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”

1 Corinthians 3:16 says, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” According to Old Testament law, anything that was defiled was to be destroyed. Now, although I’m not saying that God will immediately strike you with a thunderbolt if you use your body for ungodly purposes, there is a defilement that leads to destruction that we can ourselves affect.

“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 14:12).

Let us break it down simply:

• Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Ghost.

• First, we are to take care of the temple. That mean taking care of our health and abstaining from things that would damage it; addictive substances and even certain lifestyles are not conducive to health. We are to take care of our bodies as His temple so stop treating yourself so roughly!

• Second, that temple is to be used for God’s kingdom—not our own. Your body, your talents, your abilities, your energies should be directed toward furthering His kingdom. Indeed, many of us must work secular jobs to feed our families, but let us ever be a witness while there!

• Third, that means that working for Satan is a ‘conflict of interest!’ How can our body work for Satan? Causing another person to lust by the things we wear, the words we say, or how we carry ourselves is working against God. If you instigate lust, jealousy, dissension, gossip, anger, fear, hurt, pain, or anything other than God wants his children to experience, you have misused this vessel! Causing another person to stumble or keeping them from repentance and reconciliation with God is not serving His kingdom! Keep in mind that God is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). Therefore, if your actions frustrate a person’s attempt to repent, distract from a person coming to God, or outright destroy the faith of one of these, your vessel is being misused just as Belshazzar misused the vessels of the temple!

Let us be cognizant of how we are using this wonderful vessel in whom God has chosen to place His divine presence! Today, work toward using your vessel as one of glory for God rather than confusion in His kingdom.

“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.

If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.”

Let us make ourselves vessels of honor for the Master’s use today and everyday!

Only when we submit to God’s authority and Word and only when we make ourselves vessels of honour for His kingdom, can we hope to make heaven our home … if…

Hmm, perhaps we should discuss this some more!  Let's think about it and meet back here tomorrow!