For The Glory Of God

All that we do and everything that we are about should be for the greater glory of God. James stated, "For that ye ought to say, if the Lord will, we will live, and do this, or that" (James 4:15). Solomon said, "Boast not thyself of tomorrow, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth" (Proverbs 27:1). The thought of these verses is that we should make all our plans subject to two things, namely, that the Lord wills (that it is according to His will as revealed in the Bible), and that we live to do it. "If the Lord will" should be a prerequisite to all of our plans. We should be drive by motives that seek nothing but God’s glorification. Any other motive or intent on our part cannot succeed. When we lean on our own understanding, we fail. Solomon said, "Trust in the Lord with all thing heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding" (Proverbs 3:5). God’s will, God’s way, and God’s work should be our guide each and every day.

God’s Will

God’s will is exactly what we should choose to do once we have the facts. David said, "Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God; Thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness" (Psalm 143:10). Davis was writing under inspiration and, of course, the Bible had not yet been completed. As a man in the official position of king and counselor of a great people, he was confronted with various conditions of life. At such times he needed specific instruction concerning the will of the Lord. This was given to him by the spirit of God for his infallible guidance. Today our infallible guidance comes from the spirit of the Lord through His holy word. It is only when we follow God’s word explicitly that we are doing God’s will.

God’s Way

Thee is an old saying that, "the road to perdition is paved with good intentions". That saying is true, and it is also true that the blocks of honest ignorance help to cover the pavement. Jesus taught this very thing in Matthew 15:14 when He said, "Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch." It is imperative that we follow God’s way and not our own for our way is the way unto death. Again, Solomon said, "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death" (Proverbs 14:12).

God’s Work

What would Christ do if He were here in our situation? He would do the work of His Father. That is exactly what we must do. In Matthew 6:10, Jesus prayed "Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." God’s rule had been going on for centuries in heaven, so this prayer was to recognize that fact while praying for it to take place here on the earth. God’s will for His children on the earth is that we follow His commandments and do His work, which is the teaching of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Gospel. Therefore, when we pray "Thy will be done," we must be sure to do God’s work.

If we remember these points daily and give God His proper place in our lives, we will be counted among the wise and will inherit glory; we will glorify God and succeed. "The wise shall inherit glory; but shame shall be the promotion of fools" (Proverbs 3:35). In whatever we do, plan to do, and all that we accomplish let His will, way and work guide us. We will not go wrong! "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths" (Proverbs 3:5,6).

- Jimmie B. Hill