How to Give Glory to God Instead of Chasing Human Praise

Summary

People naturally crave praise, but Scripture calls believers to reflect God’s glory, not absorb it. We give God glory through confession, repentance, worship, obedience, generosity, and righteous living. True disciples redirect attention from themselves to God, showing His supreme worth through transformed character and fruitful lives. When believers live honorably and sacrificially, God receives the praise He alone deserves, now and forever.

Why We Naturally Bend Toward Praise

As plants bend toward incoming light, we naturally bend toward the light of glory. As rays of praise and adoration strike us, our heads grow! We lose all perspective, imagining we are stars instead of moons made to reflect glory to God.

The Danger of Loving Human Praise

How do we give glory to God and receive it as He intended? Many Jews in Jesus’ audience believed in Him but did not admit it because “they loved human praise more than the praise of God” (John 12:43 NLT).

Giving God Glory Through Confession and Repentance

We can identify with their praise-hungry hearts. We must change the channel to give glory to God. We give glory to Him by acknowledging Him publicly (Jeremiah 13:16).

Even sinful Achan, the enemy of his people, gave glory to God by telling the truth about his sin (Joshua 7:19). Changing our attitude about our sin and calling it what God does is confession.

Turning away from it to Him is repentance, associated with giving God glory in Revelation 16:9. Believers praised God because Paul turned from a persecutor of Christians to a gospel preacher (Galatians 1:24).

Worship Expressed Through Sacrifice and Praise

We give the LORD the glory He deserves by fearing Him, bringing offerings, and worshiping Him (1 Chronicles 16:29, Psalm 96:8, Revelation 14:7). Offering our bodies as living and holy sacrifices is true worship (Romans 12:1).

We give glory to God by constantly praising His name (Psalm 44:8, Isaiah 24:15, Isaiah 42:8) with all our hearts (Psalm 86:12). Singing songs of praise gives Him glory (Isaiah 24:16). Only one of the ten lepers Jesus healed returned to give glory to God. He said, “Praise God!” and fell on the ground and thanked Jesus (Luke 17:18).

We give the LORD the glory for His blessings (Isaiah 26:15) and when He rescues us from our troubles (Psalm 50:15). Christ came so the Gentiles might give glory to God for His mercies (Romans 15:9).

Obedience and Generosity That Point to God

Believing and obeying God brings Him glory (Romans 1:5). Our generosity proves obedience to the gospel and inspires people to give glory to God (2 Corinthians 9:13).

Those who do what is right bring glory to God (Romans 6:13). They are like oaks God plants for His glory (Isaiah 61:3). Righteous character is the fruit of salvation Jesus Christ produces in our lives to bring much glory and praise to God (Philippians 1:11). Unbelievers will honor God when He judges the world because His followers lived properly and behaved honorably (1 Peter 2:12).

God gives those who have right standing with Him and do what is right grace and glory and every good thing (Psalm 84:11, Romans 8:30). The Holy Spirit is a foretaste of that future glory (Romans 8:23).

Those who keep on doing good seek the glory, honor, and immortality God offers (Romans 2:7). Believers’ good deeds get attention, and their heavenly Father gets the praise (Matthew 5:16). Accepting each other as Christ accepts us brings God glory (Romans 15:7).

A Life That Reflects God’s Supreme Worth

True disciples bear much spiritual fruit, bringing great glory to God the Father (John 15:8). They spend their time, talents, treasures, energy, and spiritual gifts to do God’s will because He and building His Kingdom are of supreme worth. That is how people give glory to God.

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