October 29

Written by Bill Grandi on October 29th, 2020

For a good part of my childhood and young adult life I was actively involved in playing sports. I started playing baseball when I was 8 y/o. They had no such “animal” as T-ball or “coach pitch.” No, you started playing ball. I took to baseball like a fish to water. There was an immediate love affair. By 9 I was excelling and by 10 was playing some on the big team. I dreamed of being a major league player. That was also before traveling teams and weekend tournaments.

The basketball bug hit me in 9th grade. I couldn’t run and dribble at the same time so the coach had me spend a lot of time during practice on the side doing just that. But I became locked on to basketball until it overtook baseball. Another dream.

College ball had me hitting my stride. I excelled but chose not to play my Sr. year. I married between my Jr/Sr year. But I grew tired of the bus rides, the low grades, the 3rd coach in 4 years, and playing ball. I was done with organized ball.

As I look back I see a detriment to the success of either game. I see it today in other realms. I’ll call it the “glory hound.” The one who wants preeminence. Teams are devastated by the one who seeks glory. When I was young I read a series of books called the Chip Hilton Series by Clair Bee (think Hardy Boys or Nancy Drew only sports related). In almost every book was a player who wanted glory. He was a “me first Marty.”

Teams can’t win with glory hounds. Churches can’t either.  In 3 John we read about a man named Diotrephes who “loved the preeminence.” He was destructive because it was all about him and his wishes. (We would call it bullying today).

To bring this devo to a close, God despises the one who seeks the glory for himself/herself. I see it as a negative toward God, taking attention from Him. I also see it as a hindrance to the life and health of the church body. There is no place for glory hounds in God’s family.

“Father, may I never seek the glory which is due You for myself. All glory and praise belongs to You.”

 

2 Comments so far ↓

  1. Amen, Bill! The only glory given should be to God alone.
    Blessings!
    (Sorry I’m so late to your blog today, but our internet was down all morning. Thank goodness it’s now up and running!)

    • Bill Grandi says:

      I just appreciate your faithfulness in reading and commenting Martha. You are a blessing.