by Kevin Burton
The cares of this world are tangible, loud and insistent. With them can come a downward tug, a sapping of energy.
We know from experience that lurking where we can’t see them, around those corners in time, are surprises, ambushes of all sizes and shapes.
So what a blessing it is to get the occasional reminder like the one in the Twila Paris song “All About You” that says “no matter what it’s all about, it’s all about You.”
That song also says “no matter what I face today, You’re all I need.”
Though Michael Caine is one of my favorite actors, somehow I have never seen the movie “Alfie.” But the musical question, “What’s it all about Alfie” has jumped into my mind repeatedly over the years.
It helps to simplify life when you can, boil it all down to something succinct and actionable.
These are my reactions upon reading a recent message from Alistair Begg, speaker on the Truth For Life radio ministry about pursuing and amplifying the glory of God.
What’s it all about? God and His glory.
“To Him be glory forever.” This should be the single desire of the Christian. All other wishes must be subservient and serve as tributaries to this,” Begg writes.
“The Christian may wish for prosperity in his business, but only inasmuch as it may help him to promote this—“To him be glory forever.”
“He may desire to attain more gifts and more graces, but it should only be that he may declare, “To him be glory forever.”
“You are not acting as you ought to do when you are moved by any other motive than a single focus on the Lord’s glory,” Begg writes. “As a Christian, you are ‘from him and through him,’ and so you must live ‘to him.’
Between the screaming alarms that demand your attention and the shiny toys that divert your attention, it is far too easy to take your eyes off God and forget what it’s all about. These things hack your spiritual GPS, sending you to the wrong places. Movement in the wrong direction is not progress.
“Do not let anything set your heart beating so fast as love for Him. Let this ambition fire your soul; may this be the foundation of every enterprise upon which you enter, and your sustaining motive whenever your zeal would grow cold,” Begg writes. “ Make God your only object. Depend upon it—where self begins, sorrow begins; but if God is my supreme delight and only object: To me ‘tis equal whether love ordain. My life or death—appoint me ease or pain.
“Let your desire for God’s glory be a growing desire. You blessed Him in your youth; do not be content with such praises as you gave Him then.”
Has God prospered you in business? Give Him more as He has given you more.”
“Has God given you experience? Praise Him by stronger faith than you exercised at the beginning. Does your knowledge grow? Then sing more sweetly.”
“Do you enjoy happier times than you once had? Have you been restored from sickness, and has your sorrow been turned into peace and joy? Then give Him more music; put more coals and more sweet spices into the censer of your praise,” Begg writes
“Practically in your life give Him honor, offering the ‘Amen’ of this doxology to your great and gracious Lord by your own individual service and increasing holiness.”
“By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples,” John 15:8 (NKJV).
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