GOD WILL NOT SHARE HIS GLORY!

READ PSALM 115

WHY WOULD ANYONE EVER VENERATE A STATUE!

Psalm 115:1

Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory,

for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!

This psalm begins with a short phrase that seems so clear and easy to implement in our lives.

We all would say that we desire to do all things to the glory of God. We know that God deserves all the glory because of His perfect love to us and because of His unwavering faithfulness.

My question, at this point, is if you have had the same reaction of disappointment that I have, when people do not thank me for a service I have done? Have you let people know the things you have done for them or for others? Have you been disturbed when people have not even noticed the work you have done? Have you been upset when others have received praise for work you have accomplished? Have you been disturbed because you were doing “all” the work? Have you complained that others do not give, but seem to be always on the receiving end? Are you embittered by people who seem demanding of your service?

I am afraid I could prolong this list, and I would be good at doing it because these feelings and attitudes so easily creep up into my own heart. They certainly reflect a desire (in the best of cases) to share the glory with God, and most times to receive recognition for myself.

But our lives should always be lived with the desire to magnify God and to minimize ourselves. John the Baptist understood this clearly.

John 3:30

        He must increase, but I must decrease.”

       

Especially here in Italy, the truth of the verses that follow are magnified.

Psalm 115:4-8

        Their idols are silver and gold,

                the work of human hands.

        They have mouths, but do not speak;

                eyes, but do not see.

        They have ears, but do not hear;

                noses, but do not smell.

        They have hands, but do not feel;

                feet, but do not walk;

                and they do not make a sound in their throat.

        Those who make them become like them;

                so do all who trust in them.

Visiting the Sistine Chapel or one of the basilicas in Rome causes us to be awestruck by the beauty of the art and talent of the artists. In a little church not far from the Coliseum, there is the statue of Moses, done by Michelangelo. It is majestic and beautiful. On the knee there is a crack caused by the Michelangelo, who hit it with his hammer, as he exclaimed: “Speak!” The artist was so impressed with the perfection of his creation that he felt that all it needed was the ability to speak.

As beautiful as the idols are, they have no ability to hear or respond to the needs of devoted people. Not only they are inanimate, but even the “saints” they represent have no ability to respond. In many or most of the churches here, an image of Mary is prominent, even overshadowing the images of Christ. Man has created and will continue to create idols and images that replace the position which only God should have.

God is not the better choice in a multiple array of possibilities. He is the only one!

Isaiah 42:8

        I am the LORD; that is my name;

                my glory I give to no other,

                nor my praise to carved idols.

The psalmist goes on with a command to trust only God, to depend upon Him for everything.

Psalm 115:13

he will bless those who fear the LORD,

both the small and the great.

God is blessing us in whatever circumstance we are, in whatever position we are, in whatever state we are. He is active in bringing us closer to Him and magnifying Himself through them all.

As long as you are alive, God expects and deserves your absolute, unshared praise and dependence.

Psalm 115:18

But we will bless the LORD

from this time forth and forevermore.

Praise the LORD!

May our day today reflect the fact that we are not trying to take glory from God, nor replacing Him with visible or invisible idols created by any man.