Avoiding Vain Glory

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. I Corinthians 10:31 (KJV)

Let us not be desirous of vain glory Galatians 5:26 (KJV)

What is vain glory? How can we avoid it?

Vain means without real value, empty, worthless, ineffectual, conceited, to no purpose, unsatisfying, idle, egotistical, unreal, fruitless, showy. Glory means praise, honor, admiration, distinction, the divine presence, the divine perfection.

Vain glory is when one takes glory for oneself and does not give all the glory to God. When we live for ourselves and not for God, it produces vain glory. We are to live to glorify God and not ourselves. Vain glory is worthless and empty. It has no value, brings no purpose, and doesn’t satisfy. It is fleeting, meaningless, and temporary.

We’re to seek to give God glory, not to seek glory for ourselves, no matter who we are or what we are accomplishing. Whatever we do, we should not take the credit, but give the glory to God. We are who we are and can do what we do only because God gifted us for it. Without God, we would be nothing and could do nothing.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. James 1:17 (KJV)

Any good thing or talent we have comes from God and it goes back to God as we give Him glory for it. as we live for God, our lives will take on meaning and value. We will live with purpose, be satisfied, and bear fruit for the Kingdom of God. This glorifies God. We won’t live life just for a show or to be seen of people. We won’t seek an audience of many, but of One- God. We’ll live to be seen of God and not of men.

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Colossians 3:17 (KJV)

Real glory is when we give God all the praise and honor. As we live for God, not for ourselves, we’ll avoid vain glory. As we give God the glory, we will experience the divine presence of God, and we’ll grow in character towards the divine character of God. We’ll become more Christlike and less self-centered. Our entire lives will bring glory to God. We avoid vain glory when we give God all the glory.

If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. I Peter 4:11 (KJV)