Fame. Power. Wealth. Significance. To be known and to be understood. To be validated. To be looked up to. We long for glory. We want people to like us. We want others to believe we are significant and we want them to tell us about it.In the words of the great Nacho Libre, we all want a “taste of the glory” just to “see what it tastes like”!
We want to be great. Yet, for those who follow Christ, Jesus calls them to be servants. In the gospel of Matthew, He says that the greatest among us will be the least and the least among us will be the greatest. Why do we have such a deep longing for glory? in his book GLORY HUNGER, author JR Vassar addresses our need for power and glory.
We were created to relate to, reflect, and represent God. We were created to show His glory. Before the fall of mankind in the Garden of Eden we were in complete harmony and relationship with God. We were all examples of the glory of God, without blame. When sin entered the picture the glory of God within us and our desires to praise Him for all that He is became twisted. We started to focus on the creation more than the Creator. We gave our affections and love intended for God to ourselves. We became narcissistic.
We all want our 15 minutes of fame. We want the praise and response of people to our “greatness” and “glory”. JR gives an excellent example of the jumbotron at a sporting event. Until we show up on the jumbotron we’re just sitting back watching the game. Then suddenly we see our face on a big screen and we freak out. We feel famous. We feel important.
This can happen when someone we respect, an author, a celebrity, a pastor, a speaker, a musician, or professional in our field of expertise retweets us our @ replies to us on Twitter. The mere mention of our own names with theirs is enough to make us go a little bonkers.
The glory you have always wanted deep down, the compliments you craved, and the recognition you have desired after every accomplishment are all just misdirected efforts to assuage a God-given ache to be spoken well of by Him.
– JR VASSAR
When we see the approval and praise of man of the approval and praise of God we are giving into the fallen nature in us. We aren’t denying ourselves or focusing our hearts on the call of Christ. We are instead pushing toward the elevation of our depravity. We must instead take heed to the words of the apostle Paul.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
– HEBREWS 12:1-3 NIV
