Reimar A.C. Schultze

Past Issues of the Call To Obedience

"The Chief End of Man"

Guest Editoral Rev. Robert Morgan

Part of the Presbyterian catechism says “The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever…”

     The chief end of man is to make a lot of money… Wait a minute.   Did I say that wrong? If that isn’t it, maybe the chief end of man is to gain a little fame…

     To say the “chief end of man” is to glorify God means it is more important to glorify God than absolutely anything we can do on earth.  We can’t do anything greater than this…  So let us look at how we glorify God.

     How did Jesus glorify God?  John 17:4 (NIV) says, “I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.”   It is glorifying to God to do the work He tells us to do.  Adam was in God’s image and God put him in the Garden to work.  This tells us one way to glorify God is on your job.  Colossians 3:23 says, “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.”  When you go to your job tomorrow you are working for God, not that boss you don’t like.  So do your work tomorrow like you are working for Jesus.  Realize that you are glorifying God by working for Jesus.

     God put Adam in the Garden and put him to work.  He was glorifying God by keeping, tending, and tilling the Garden.  To do all of this well was glorifying to God.

    Most people in America want to retire.  They try to get out of work.  Do you know God never retires any of His children?  He may cut the workload down, but He does not retire us.  You may be looking forward to retiring but, as the Lord’s child, you will not get to do it.

     Adam had his times of worship and God walked with him in the cool of the day, but most of the time he was working and watching over the Garden…

     A lady came to a pastor one day and told him she felt like she was called to preach.  The pastor said he thought she was called, too.  He asked her how many children she had and she told him she had six.  The Pastor said, “God has not only called you, He has also given you your congregation!”  He told her that every day she worked with those children she was glorifying God.

     Every mother who is raising children is glorifying God by cooking meals, washing clothes, changing diapers: things that seem like ordinary chores.  You may be doing things every day you do not like to do, but by doing them willingly and cheerfully you are glorifying God.

     If we could get the idea that what we are doing is glorifying God, it would make our work easier.  It would make it easier for mothers if they had this revelation.  God will put us to work.  You may not be doing what you want to do, but, if you will do it for His glory, then you can enjoy it.  Every worker can bring glory to God.   We bring glory to Him by doing our best in the work He has given us to do.

     Every person can glorify God by living a Christ-like life at work.  Many times God may have you in a rough place at work, but it may be your opportunity to let your light shine.  The light shines in darkness.  Our light doesn’t shine in church too much.  We enjoy all God does but it is like light shining on light.

     When Daniel was in Babylon , he glorified God by being in a place he did not like.  He had to go to a school he did not like, learn a language he did not like and be in servitude to the king.  But he tried to do the best job he could for that king.  He was glorifying God by doing something he did not like.   We want to do things we like and set our own goals.  If we would let god help us do what He wants, we would glorify Him.

     Daniel was thrown into the den of lions.  But because he had glorified God in Babylon , the king was impressed by his godly life.  After fasting all night, the king came to check on Daniel.  In Daniel 6:20-22 we find the king calling out to Daniel, and Daniel answering him.  He says, “Oh Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?”  Then Daniel said unto the king, “O king, live forever.  My God hath sent his angels, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me.”   So, Daniel was glorifying God and impressing the king by being faithful in doing the work given him to do.  Daniel was faithful in the work given him to do. In the hour of trial, his faithfulness spoke to the king and this was glorifying to God.

     Daniel 6:25-27 says, “The king, Darius, wrote unto all the people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.  I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God and steadfast forever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.  He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.”

      Moses glorified God with a shepherd’s rod and a staff.  He went to Egypt with a rod and a shepherd’s staff.  God’s power got into that rod and staff because Moses was faithful in the work given him to do.  When Moses was on the mountain praying for Joshua who was in the battle in the valley, Moses was glorifying God in his praying.   Aaron and Hur were glorifying God by placing a stone for Moses to sit on and by holding up his arms when he became weary.

     If we could start the day with the attitude that we wanted to glorify God by the way we treat our family and the people we meet, how we do our job, etc., we would be more fulfilled and happier.  You can glorify God in your home.  Husbands and wives can glorify God by the way they treat one another.  When you get up in the morning, determine that you are going to glorify God by the way you treat your wife or husband.

     Dr. George Washington Carver wanted a job and so he came to a lady who was difficult to work for.  The lady gave him a dust cloth and told him to go and dust a certain room.   He glorified God by doing a good job on the room.  The lady checked the room after he finished and she could not find dust anywhere, so she gave him the job.  He was on his way to becoming a scientist, but, on his way, he glorified God in menial tasks.

When we get up tomorrow let us purpose to glorify God in what we do, what we say and where we go.  As you go to work tomorrow, may God help you.  Take every opportunity given you to glorify God!