"For they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God."
There is always this urge or temptation, or sinful desire, that makes us want for others to accept us and to ultimately praise us. In return we share in their satisfaction with us and ultimately we feel good about us. I think this is the glory that comes from man.
Now it isn't entirely awful or sinful to enjoy ones company. Or to love your neighbor or family member, etc. Of course, this right and good. But I'm referring to this desire to please man and in return get something back.
With God, we have a relationship. We are always in the needy sheep position to our Good Shepherd. We always truly need Him. We truly only find happiness with Him. But as we should all know we like to wander away from The Good Shepherd in pastures we think are better. Which is the root of sin, finding something "better" than God. Which is stupid. But yes we are like "sheep led to the slaughter".
If in business we are constantly gazing at the future and the glory we will receive from man by our works, we have ultimately forfeited our relation with God and His glory. God wants to do more than what we think or can imagine. But its our sin and lust that causes us to really miss out on the blessings God has intended.
We can believe something and yet live our lives as if we never have truly confessed what we believe.
This is rooted in the fear of what man will ultimately decide about us by our beliefs. And then in turn I think you find the most miserable people in this life, the people pleasers.
Now it would be easy to swing to the other side of the pendulum. Well to avoid people pleasing I will dislike people all together. This is the hipster movement. Hah. Just kidding, but something close to it.
So how do you receive the glory that comes from God and not man?
That my friends is always, "Where is thy heart? For there your treasure will be."
