Sola Deo Gloria: Glory to God Alone

The heavens are declaring God’s glory (Psalm 19:1). The whole earth is filled with God’s glory (Isaiah 6:3). The animals bring glory to God (Isaiah 43:20). The aim of every sermon is to give light to the knowledge of God’s glory (II Corinthians 4:5-6). If I seek to please man with my preaching, I am robbing God of His glory and fearing man over God.

Psalm 115 is a prayer about the foolishness of glorifying man-made idols, and it begins with this statement – “Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!” From the beginning, the psalmist makes sure God understands why he has come to Him – to give Him glory

The spotlight should always be upon God and never upon us. We are never to attempt to rob God of His glory. We ought to loathe the idea of anyone getting glory before God. God will not and should share His glory with another.

Isaiah writes, “I am the Lord, that is My name; My glory I give to no other, nor My praise to carved idols” (Isaiah 42:8).

And later in Isaiah 48:11, we read, “For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned?  My glory I will not give to another.”

God is a God of glory (I Sam 15:29; Ps 24:8). When you think of God, think of glory. When you speak of God, speak of glory. When you draw near to God, draw near to One who is glorious. When you look in the world, you see God’s glory.

God expects and commands all glory be given to Him in everything we eat and beverage we drink (I Corinthians 10:31).

God’s glory is the summarizing answer to all of life’s questions (e.g., “why” questions), and it is also the starting point before all questions are asked (e.g., Why create? Why design?). All – everything – is not for my good but for His glory.

God’s glory always matters. Each of us were made in His image and created to glory Him. Paul reminds us, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body” (I Corinthians 6:19-20).

And then, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (I Cor 10:31). “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Col 3:17).

In Romans 11:36 – “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.”

In other words, we are not the center of our own universe; God is.