Taking Glory

There is a trap that I have been involved in far too many times. It is the trap of building myself up to other people, making myself bigger than I really was at the time. In truth I am no bigger than I was then, no better than I was then. If I am bigger and better, it is solely because of the Lord in my life.

"Be not forward [self-assertive and boastfully ambitious] in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men; for better is it that it be said to you, Come up here, than you should be put lower in the presence of the prince whose eyes have seen you." Proverbs 25:6-7, Amplified

Jesus spoke the very same words to His disciples. "When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest anyone more honorable than you be invited by him; and he who invited you and him come and say to you, 'Give place to this man,' and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes he may say to you, 'Friend, go up higher.' Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you." (Luke 14:8-10, NKJV) It's simple: do not take glory for yourself, rather allow glory to overtake you.

Honorable (Proverbs 25:4-5)

In order refine, refuse must be removed.

"Take away the dross from silver, and there shall come forth [the material for] a vessel for the silversmith [to work up]." Proverbs 25:4, Amplified

The dross is all the impurity in the silver. As those impurities are removed, the silver itself becomes more pure, therefore it becomes more valuable and the end product is that much more beautiful.

"Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness [spiritual and moral rectitude in every area and relation]." Proverbs 25:5, Amplified

The same can be said of ourselves and our hearts. If we remove the impurity of the world out of our vicinity, then we can be more focused on the Lord and become that much more beautiful in Him. "In a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel of honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work." (Second Timothy 2:20-21, NKJV) It is written in black an white how we are to conduct ourselves: either honorably or dishonorably.

Trust II (Proverbs 25:3)

"As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the heart and minds of kings are unsearchable." Proverbs 25:3, Amplified

Who is our King but the Lord Himself. There are so many different things that we do not understand about Him. The ways in which He works are unknown to His children. But He truly makes all things work together for His own glory. We can never place ourselves, nor assume the responsibility, of questioning Him. He is so unsearchable. If this verse were to be translated into one word, that single word would be "trust".