Sunday’s sermon reminded us that the greatest pursuit of our life must be the honor of God’s name. Jesus taught his disciples to pray, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” He not only spoke these words, but demonstrated this all-consuming passion in every living moment. Even as he prepared to die, he earnestly prayed, “Father, glorify your name” (John 12:28). Some of us may be taken aback by the fact that God’s honor was not only Jesus’s desire, but the Father’s as well. We may cringe at God’s declaration to Israel:
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.
Such words can seem exceedingly self-centered and can prompt important questions. The answers to these questions have the potential to alter our worldview – the lens through which we see God, ourselves, and all of reality. Why does God seek his own glory? If it is so wrong for people to glorify themselves, how can it be right for God? A deep-dive into this question would fill a book, but let me offer two thoughts to point us in the right direction.
To pursue an answer, it can be helpful to ask another question: if not his own, then whose glory should God seek? Jesus told his disciples, “Your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matt 5:48). It would seem wrong for God, being completely perfect and righteous, to seek the glory of another who is not. Neither would it seem reasonable for him to glorify nobody. Rather, since God alone is worthy of glory, it is right for him to glorify the one who most deserves it.
There is another way to think about this question. When we consider precisely how God glorifies himself, we discover that the apex of God’s glory is seen in the most selfless act in history – the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. People glorify themselves at the expense of others. God glorifies himself at his own expense, for the good of others. So, the answer, biblically, is no – God’s passion for his glory is not selfish, because he most glorified himself though the greatest act of mercy ever known.