Do All For the Glory of God
Whatever you do, do all for the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:21)
Everything we do should be for the honor, glory, praise, and good pleasure of God.
If we do even the most minor things, intending to please and honor God, our actions take on great supernatural value. In chapter 19 of The Practice of the Love of Jesus Christ, Saint Alphonsus Liguori gives us four criteria to discern whether or not we are acting for the glory of God:
The Failure Test
If you fail at some endeavor and are content, it is a good sign that your motive is to glorify and please God.
The first indication that we are acting for the glory and honor of God is that when our efforts fail, we are just as satisfied and content as if we had entirely succeeded. Jesus says, “Apart from me, you can do nothing” (Jn. 15:5). God looks at our good intention and efforts, not our success. Success or failure is in the hands of Divine Providence.
On the other hand, to be distraught and discouraged at our failures shows we were motivated more by self-interest than the desire to please God.
The Envy Test
The second sign is that when we see someone else accomplishing something great for God, we don’t get jealous or envious but rather rejoice in the good deed as much as if we had achieved it ourselves. The fact that someone else succeeded in doing something for God makes us happy, even though we didn’t accomplish it ourselves.
It is our ego that gets flustered when someone else succeeds at things we aren’t able to pull off.
If you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This wisdom is not such as comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice (Js. 3:14–16).
The Distasteful Assignment Test
At school or at work, we may be assigned to a job that we don’t enjoy or feel we could be better at. Usually, we try to wriggle our way out of it, hoping that somebody more competent will handle it.
The third sign that we are acting for the glory of God is that we don’t prefer one job over another but are happy to be doing the will of God, whatever it might be. So if our boss, professor, or pastor asks us to do something, we try to accommodate them and do our best, whether we enjoy it or not, whether we see ourselves as well qualified or not.
If I am only interested in doing things that make me shine or that I personally find satisfaction in, that’s a sign that “self” is on the throne.
Whatever your task, work heartily, as serving the Lord and not men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward; you are serving the Lord Christ (Col. 3:23–24).
The Invisibility Test
Naturally, it’s difficult when you go out of your way to contribute or do something to help, and no one notices your sacrifice or your efforts, nobody expresses appreciation, and you never hear a word of thanks. But if we act for the glory of God, we aren’t dependent on human gratitude or recognition.
The fourth sign our heart is set on God’s glory is that we don’t need appreciation or recognition. We are content that we have accomplished the will of God and done “what is pleasing in his sight” (Heb. 13:21).
Even if we are criticized and ridiculed for our performance, it’s not a big deal because recognition or approbation was never our goal in the first place. We did it for God’s glory, not our own. The Father will see and reward.
But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you (Mt. 6:3–4).
As committed followers of Jesus Christ, we want to work for his glory, not our own. Keep these four criteria in mind as you strive to “lead a life worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Col. 3:10).
Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in you that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen (Heb. 13:20–21).
