To God Be The Glory . . .

To God Be the Glory . . .

Have you ever wondered where the expression “fifteen minutes of fame” comes from? Or what it really means? In February 1968, pop art pioneer Andy Warhol’s work appeared at an exhibition in Stockholm, Sweden. His catalog contained the line “In the future everybody will be world famous for fifteen minutes,” which got the media’s attention and became part of the public consciousness. Warhol’s point was that, with the rise of mass media, the common man would be more likely to experience widespread but fleeting glory. It turns out he was right.

Isn’t it amazing how many people are desperate to get attention on the Internet or reality TV these days? And many of those fame seekers seem hungry for more than just fifteen minutes. They want celebrity. They want glory. They want adoration. Some will even do foolish, humiliating things if that’s what it takes to get noticed. Fortunately, the Bible gives us a rule of thumb for “glory” that will help us avoid falling into that trap: God gets all of it!

Too bad Herod Agrippa didn’t realize that. In the book of Acts, this king who persecuted the early church made a stirring speech that inspired a crowd to treat him as if he were godlike. Because he didn’t redirect the glory to God, an angel of the Lord took his life (see Acts 12:23).

The prophet Isaiah writes that our glory is as fragile and temporary as a flower (see Isaiah 40:6-7). On the other hand, the glory God receives has lasting value, which is why the apostle Paul says, “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). That sort of takes the pressure off, doesn’t it? If we’re focused on God’s glory and not our own, we’re less likely to compromise our principles or do something foolish just to get attention. And when success does find us, we won’t make Agrippa’s mistake of getting too full of ourselves.

Daddy-Daughter Time

A fantasy on many kids’ TV shows is to be a superstar. Why do you think that is? Discuss the difference between fame that’s a result of excellence and fame that is pursued just for the sake of being famous. Do you know someone at work or school whose sense of self-worth is wrapped up in receiving glory? How might that rob him or her of peace? How do you sometimes struggle with the same thing?

What’s The Word?

Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.   1 Corinthians 10:31