What does it mean to “glorify God”? Extol Him? Worship Him? Praise and honor Him in thought, word, and deed? Hanukkah and Advent are particularly good times to reflect upon how well we’re doing at this glorifying business. On a scale of 1-10, where do we rank?
King David prayed, “I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever. For great is your love toward me; you have delivered me from the depths of the grave.” (Psalm 86:12-13)
Mary prayed, “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has been mindful of the humble state of His servant. … Holy is His name.” (Luke 1:46-55)
To glorify God, at least in part, is to acknowledge Him and express our gratitude for all He has done for us. But how else might we glorify God?
I’m especially curious about how we glorify God through our work. Values come to mind. Honesty. Integrity. Treating others with compassion, dignity, and respect. But what about the kind of work we do? Are we glorifying God if we’re working “off purpose,” spending our limited time on earth doing what we’re not called to do?
Are we glorifying God if we’re charging too much for our services…or too little? Are we glorifying God if we fail to consult Him? If we’re neglecting our loved ones for the sake of career advancement or business development? Are we glorifying God if we’re thinking small?
Does God even care about such matters?
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6
What does it mean to glorify God through our work?
Curious in Lynchburg,
Photo by Flickr (Sharon)
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