Who gets the glory? – Attempts at Honesty

Have you ever sat through a sermon on a Sunday, thinking that the preacher was doing well, only to walk away not remembering the point of the sermon? I have experienced a sermon or two after which I remembered the opening joke or a touching illustration but did not remember anything about the Biblical text for the message.

In contrast, I have also experienced “meat and potatoes” preaching that was not flashy or great oratory but helped me learn Scripture and apply it to my life.

I have often wondered what made the difference between memorable and forgettable preaching. Perhaps I was given a clue about answering this question when I read this:

“The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood.” (John 7:18, ESV)

Is it safe to say that anyone who fills the pulpit on a Sunday must first wrestle with his motivation for being in the pulpit? The same would be true of anyone who has any teaching ministry in the church.

Honesty requires me to admit that I have never done anything from entirely pure motives. Pride sneaks in to steal some of the glory. I assume that this is true of others also.

The question for those of us who presume to teach (or write blog posts) in the church is “Why am I doing this?” Or as Jesus puts it, “Whose glory are you seeking?

Am I writing or speaking to glorify God and encourage people into deeper relationship with him or am I trying to display my knowledge and look brilliant?

In the end, the closer I can get to seeking only God’s glory in what I do, the more worthwhile is the doing of it.