Glory To God
The majesty of the soaring eagle or the gaudy splendor of a peacock assuredly declares the glory of their creator. What about the old black, baldheaded buzzard? He is ugly and repulsive. Does he glorify God? Beware! Do not confuse glamour and glorifying God. The buzzard's wide wings allow him to soar effortlessly over the countryside. His keen eye misses nothing on the ground. He is powerfully equipped with claw to hold and beak to tear. His demanding appetite drives him and he cleans the land of all carrion. The old buzzard lacks glamour, but he magnificently does his job. He glorifies his creator.
A woman appears on a TV talk show. She glides gracefully across the floor in a dress shockingly split up the sides and down the front. Soft curls fall across her bare shoulders and back. She talks of love nests, and jokes of her many lovers. She confides her scandalous indiscretion. She admits coyly to being a sex-idol. Glamorous she may be, but she perverts God's good design for woman. "Glorify God in your body and your spirit" (1 Cor. 6:20), but the body is not for fornication (vs. 13) — nor for lasciviousness. God is not glorified.
Look at another scene. The woman is wearing her old clothes and her hair is tied with a bandanna. She is working hard at cleaning her house and washing clothes. She stops for a moment, as a crying baby demands his dirty diaper be changed. Neither the woman nor her work is glamorous, but she glorifies God. She is doing the work God assigned wives and mothers, God is glorified. There are two considerations for a creation to glorify its creator. First, it must have a worthwhile purpose. A machine has an impressive array of wheels, pulleys, belts, and chains. Lights flash; bells ring. It is impressive. "What is this machine supposed to do?" "Well, nothing." The designer is not glorified. Second, it must function dependably. If the machine repeatedly fails to run or if it simply will not do what it is designed to do, the designer is not glorified.
We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them (Eph. 2:10). We are designed as Christians to have a worthwhile purpose — unto good works. It is decreed that we should walk--manner of life, habit--in good works. "...they may see your good works and glorify the father..." (Mt. 5:16). Thus when we are "fruitful in every good work" (Col. 1:10), God is glorified in all things (1 Pet. 4:11).
Elders teach, encourage, and watch for souls (Heb. 13:17). No glamour. They may never be mistaken for corporate presidents, but they do a very good work (1 Tim. 3:1). They should be honored in their diligence (1 Tim. 5:17). And God is glorified. A local church worships, teaches, edifies, shows compassion on their weak and destitute. They may never make the news, but men are developing the stature of Christ (Eph. 4:13). God's wisdom is displayed (3:10), and God is glorified through the church (3:21).
Joe Fitch 6326 Peacepipe San Antonio, TX