But let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know Me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the LORD. Jeremiah 9:24
“Have any of us ever come to the place where we have honestly ceased to glory in our own possessions? Never, I believe, until we have been deprived of them. Human nature is so constituted that while it possesses anything, it can hardly help glorying in it. As long as the Christian feels wise or strong or rich in spiritual things, that Christian will almost inevitably glory in his strength, wisdom, or riches. But if these are taken away, he will be driven to glory in the Lord alone, simply because there will be nothing else to glory in.”
Hannah Whitall Smith in Daily Secrets of the Christian Life: A One-Year Devotional (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2001) reading for 4 June.
In what do you glory? I’ve returned home from teaching. My students learned that when we retain material or spiritual wealth, we will inevitably glory in it. Pride overcomes us. We can’t handle it. When we release all, and trust in God’s abundant provision, all glory goes to God when He supplies.
Let me ask you again. In what do you glory? For years I felt good about my finances. I was content with my Christian faith. Candidly, I functioned as if I thought I had things pretty much sorted. Looking back, my understanding of glory was off, and I was not dispensing His kindness.
Now that you see what I am talking about, consider the question one more time. In what do you glory? Your bank account(s) and your calendar answer the question truthfully. What’s this have to do with kindness and generosity?
Only when obey the teachings of Jesus and deploy all that we are and all that we have, are our lives positioned to bring God glory. It’s the narrow way that most people miss. On that path, His kindness, justice, and righteousness are made known through us.
And, it’s more beautiful and glorious than anything any human can muster.