Addicted to Our Own Honor and Esteem: Do That Which Brings Most Honor and Glory to God

Pride is an insidious monster. In our verses for today we discover the people of Shinar wanting to make a name for themselves and not for their God. Indeed, they were ignoring the favor and the will of God in doing so. There is nothing new under the sun. Apart from Christ man can spiral to the depraved in a nano-second. Oftentimes, our hearts rush to the things that bring us more honor or esteem or glory rather than God. Selfish ambitions and vain conceits are rampant for the flesh – we can never get enough as these worldly goals never fully satisfy our needy souls – they will always be found wanting. Always. Our souls were made to be satisfied by our Maker and nothing else comes close to doing it – try as we may.

It does us well to remember Who it is that is to be glorified and that is not the one we see looking at ourselves in the mirror. It is no wonder that the Bible teaches us in all four Gospels that we are to deny self and follow Jesus. Vain glory and our own splendor and esteem are attitudes inconsistent with true faith. Indeed, when man wanted to make a name for himself - all the way back in Genesis at the Tower of Babel – God demonstrated His disapproval by confusing their languages. We are not to be busy about making our own names great, rather God’s. Remember, it is man’s to humble and God’s to exalt. We will certainly find disappointment when we seek to glorify our flesh and not our great God.   

When lust is up and eager for fulfillment thoughts of eternal glory go out the back door. Many part from following God’s will and His way for the vilest price. A little vanity, a little pleasure, a little doting too much on our whims and wishes and not God’s desire for our lives and we easily depart from what is honorable and sacred. Like Esau, we sell our birthright for a piece of meat or like Judas who chose the coins to kill the Savior. Beware of flesh, we can convince ourselves of anything we desire. Scripture tells us in James 1:13-15 (NIV): “When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” There is most definitely a cycle to sin. That is why we are cautioned in Scripture to flee temptation as if it were a serpent - it is not our friend. Further, how can we know what God desires if we remain ignorant of His will and ways found in His Word? He will never go against it or wink at us when we seek to as He is holy and righteous and always, always knows what is very best for us. We are the created not the Creator. His great love for us sent His Son to die for us so that we once again – as Adam and Eve – could walk with Him in the cool of the day. He desires for us to flourish and not to be bound by sin and we do this by walking in the way He has prescribed in Scripture. But the world is wooing and loud and if we are not prepared we fall prey to the siren song.

The bait is the present – what we can presently feel, see, touch and enjoy – think David and Bathsheba or Samson and Deliliah. But it is also not just fleshly in its nature, it is curated for the sinner and saint alike and includes also materially – amassing great fortunes and being too enraptured by the world. Remember as well, pride is an insidious monster even to the point of causing an angel to become a devil. Flee from arrogance and pride – it is not our friend.