We live in a world of self-glorification.  We want others to be impressed with us, to praise us, to respect us, to be in awe of us.  We want the glory.  And if life is all about us, then we should get the glory.  But life is not all about us, and Psalm 115:1a points us in a different direction:

Not to us, O Lord, not to us,
but to your name give glory.

Instead of seeking glory for ourselves, we are to give all the glory to God.  We should want others to be impressed with God, to praise God, to respect God, to be in awe of God.  We want God to get the glory.

Two questions spring from this call to give glory to God.  First, why should we give God the glory?  Second, how do we give God the glory?  We will deal with the second question in a later post.  For now, consider four reasons from Psalm 115 that we should give all the glory to God:

• He is a God of love and faithfulness (v1b).  We should give God glory because of his incredible love for us as demonstrated on the cross.  Because of his love, we can be forgiven, have a new life in relationship with God, and have the hope of heaven.  And he is faithful to us.  His mercies are new every morning.  He keeps his promises to us.  Why should we give God all the glory?  Because of his love and faithfulness.
• He is the one true God (v2-8).  The gods of this world can be seen, but they are impotent.  Whether we talk about the carved idols of the pagans, or the gods we construct in our own minds, or the gods we make out of material things, they can not bring satisfaction, fulfillment, or security.  They don’t have eyes to see our trouble.  They don’t have ears to hear our cries.  They don’t have noses to smell our fear.  They don’t have mouths to speak words of comfort.  They don’t have hands to help us.  They don’t have feet to go to our defense.  They are worthless gods.  But “our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.”  Though we can’t see him, he is omnipotent – all-powerful.  And he can see our trouble, hear our cries, smell our fear, speak comfort to us, help us in our need, and go to our defense.  Why should we give God all the glory?  Because he is the one true God.
• He is our help and shield (v9-11).  Think of the many ways God has helped us through trials and struggles.  Consider how he has been a refuge, a strength, an encouragement to us.  And he has been a shield to us, protecting us from countless possible injuries, calamities, and accidents that we may never even be aware of.  Why should we give God all the glory?  Because he is our help and shield.
• He is the source of all our blessings (v12-18).  Again and again, we read that he will bless us. We need not fear that his blessings will end – he will bless us.  And he is not skimpy in his blessings, but he pours out blessing upon blessing.  As the Creator of all things, he can bless us.  “He does all that he pleases” – and he pleases to bless us!  Why should we give God all the glory?  Because of his many blessings to us.

In God, we find many reasons to give God all the glory.  May we respond to our great God by giving him the glory that he deserves today.