Glory

26 Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and took the royal city. 27 And Joab sent messengers to David and said, “I have fought against Rabbah; moreover, I have taken the city of waters. 28 Now then gather the rest of the people together and encamp against the city and take it, lest I take the city and it be called by my name.” 29 So David gathered all the people together and went to Rabbah and fought against it and took it.

In case you missed it, Lebron James just won his second NBA MVP award. I think deservedly so as he has a total game that separates him from everyone else. I guess what strikes at my heart is this: Our American culture is all about anointing glory with awards and achievements. If you think about it we start the children young with awards for achievement early on in school, activities and sports. As parents it is way to easy to get caught up in getting your child some glory as well and I see it every where around me. In most work environments people slit other peoples throats for advancement, praise from men and glory. I am all for achievement and excellence as that is biblical. What we must be careful of is this: making sure that the appropriate being receives Glory. That would be God, not us.

When you look at Joab's actions in the above verses He understood how to give away glory. He was a mighty man of war that was ultra loyal to David and fully understood that God had anointed David as king. Joab had finally beaten a long time foe, the Ammonites, and Israel was on the verge of taking a prized city, Rabbah. Joab realizes that if he where to go and take the city, that His name would be ascribed glory from the people. He realized that would create loyalty issues as some people would want to follow Him, not David. Joab was wise and loyal and pulled up just shy of taking the entire city, and calls in David to finish it off and take the glory. Why? He was submissive to authority, wanted what was best for all of Israel not just Himself, and he was Loyal. Those three markers of Joab are almost extinct in America today. We have been raised to get yours today, any way you can.

So what is wrong with getting the Glory for yourself? If the glory goes to you, it does not go to God and he alone is the one who enabled you to accomplish anything. Think through it with me. He gave you the skills, talents, smarts, money for education and talent sharpening training. He placed you were you are and opened up the paths that you have walked. The minute that we start accepting credit for God's work in our lives we are robbing Him of His praise and glory and trust me that ain't good. Just like Abner deflecting praise to David, we should be committed to pointing people to give Glory to the greater David, Jesus Christ and not ourselves.