“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”
(Revelation 4:11)
This heavenly testimony declares the chief end of all creation: God made all things for His own pleasure and glory. Every creature exists because He willed it. Every breath is borrowed from His hand. Every faculty, possession, opportunity, and mercy has been granted for this one great purpose—that God would be glorified in His works.
At the same time this truth exposes one of the deepest sins of the human heart: the desire of man to live for himself rather than for God. Sin is not simply doing what is forbidden; it is the fundamental disorder of the soul that makes the creature the center instead of the Creator. When man seeks his own pleasure above God’s glory, his own comfort above God’s will, his own reputation above God’s honor, he rebels against the very purpose for which he was made.
The believer must therefore confess that even many lawful desires become sinful when sought as ultimate ends.[1] Safety, comfort, provision, reputation, family peace, success in labor—none of these are wrong in themselves. But when they become the chief object of the heart and pursuit of the soul, they become idols. God will not be used as a means to secure earthly ends nor is He a servant to our human desires. He is the chief end Himself.
Many seek God only to gain relief, blessing, or advantage, while having little concern for His glory. They desire the gift more than the Giver. They would have God serve their ends rather than gladly be spent for His.
We must carefully consider how often God’s glory has been secondary in our thoughts and absent in our motives. Even religious services may be performed with self still enthroned. A man may preach, serve, give, pray, and labor outwardly for God, while inwardly seeking his own name, his own comfort, or his own satisfaction.
Yet true grace restores the soul to its proper order. Regeneration bends the heart back toward its created purpose. And though imperfectly in this life, the believer can increasingly desire that God would be honored in every circumstance.
So let us seek fresh grace that our whole life would consistently align with the great end for which we were made. For God alone is worthy to receive glory and honor and power.
Contemplations:
- Confession of Self-Centered Living. Lord, I have too often lived as though my comfort, success, and desires were the great ends of life. I have sought my own ease more than Your glory, my own name more than Your honor, and my own satisfaction more than Your pleasure. Forgive me for living beneath the purpose for which You created me.
- Corrupt Motives in Holy Duties. Father, I confess that even in religious duties my motives are often mixed and impure. I have prayed, served, spoken, and labored outwardly in ways that appeared righteous, while inwardly I sought praise and advantage. Cleanse me from this hypocrisy and make my heart upright before You.
- Seeking the Gift More Than the Giver. Lord, I often desire Your blessings more than Your glory. I have often sought relief from trouble rather than conformity to Your will. Forgive me for treating You as a means to earthly ends rather than honoring You as my chief delight.
- Failing to Glorify God as I Ought. Father, You are worthy of all glory, honor, and power, yet I have given You far less than is due Your name. My worship has been weak, my obedience partial, and my gratitude shallow. Forgive me for robbing You in heart and life of the glory that belongs to You alone.
Prayer (Confession)
Most holy and glorious God, You alone are worthy to receive glory and honor and power, for all things were created by You and for You. Yet I have not lived consistently as one created for Your glory.
I confess that self too often rules my heart. I have sought my own comfort, my own advancement, my own desires, and my own reputation more than I have sought Your honor. I have made myself the center in ways both obvious and subtle. Forgive me for this deep corruption that still clings to my soul.
My prayers are often mixed with self-interest and my service with pride. My obedience is partial and reluctant. Even when I do what is right, my motives are often impure. Lord, cleanse me from hidden faults and search the secret workings of my heart.
Forgive me for desiring Your gifts more than Your glory. I have sought blessings from Your hand while not seeing that my life truly magnified Your name. I have wanted relief more than holiness, comfort more than conformity, and ease more than obedience.
Create in me a heart that delights in Your glory above all things. Subdue the pride that remains within me. And teach me to seek first Your kingdom and Your righteousness.
Let every part of my life be brought under this great purpose—that I may glorify You in body and spirit, which are Yours. Whether in joy or sorrow, labor or rest, abundance or need, let my chief desire be that Christ may be magnified in me.
In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Further Scripture References for Rev. 4:11:
Rev. 5:12; Acts 14:15; Gen. 1:1; Prov. 16:4
[1] Francis Rous, The Only Remedy That Can Cure a People, When All Other Remedies Fail, (London: H. Lownes for Iames Boler at the sign of the Marigold in Paul’s church yard, 1627), 96-104.
