Glorifying Self and Glorifying God
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Dear friend,
It seems to me as I read your letter over carefully the second time, that you are needlessly anxious about the matter concerning which you write. Of course I understand that the Christian must always put Christ first and think of him in all his life. One of Paul's words says, "Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus." That is, if we love Christ truly, we will want to do everything for him, to honour his name, to bless him, to extend the influence of his love among others. Of course, this being true, we should not live for ourselves, to get glory for our own name, to bring honour and reward to ourselves.
Jenny Lind used to say, "I sing to God." Her heart was so full of love for God, that she thought only of him in her singing, not of herself. At the same time, we know that there gathered about her own head wonderful honour, as thousands and thousands of people listened to her and were filled with rapture as they heard her sing.
Or take any eloquent preacher. As he preaches, men and women are drawn to him and wait upon his words with admiration and enthusiasm. Of course, he is honoured — but if he is a true man, he lays all the honour down at the feet of Christ. No one who lives successfully, can help receiving honour for himself. One who writes beautiful poems, makes a name for himself, a name which lives in the world and shines wherever it is known. Of course, it is possible for the person to do all this for his own glory, with no thought at all of Christ.
This is not the way to live. But it is possible for such a person, winning the acclamations and plaudits of the world, to be as humble as a little child. For example, Rev. Reginald J. Campbell spent a day with me a few weeks ago. He spoke twice in Philadelphia.
You know of him. He is under forty years of age — but he has won a wonderful name for himself in London and throughout England. Coming to this country, he has preached in all our large cities during the summer, and every place great throngs have waited upon him, and he has received commendations everywhere. But I never saw a more simple-hearted man than he is. As he sat here in my office and we talked together, he appeared to be utterly unconscious of the fact that he was talked about everywhere, and that his name was praised by thousands and thousands of people. He loves Christ, he lives for Christ. Every word he speaks, is meant to honour Christ by helping others.
This, as I understand it, is the solution of the perplexity which you bring to me. I see no reason why anyone should decline to use his own name, when he writes beautiful things. Indeed, I believe we owe it to our Master to let our name grow to mean as much as possible. There is tremendous influence in a name. If one writes a book or does good in other ways and his name goes out over the world — it grows to mean a great deal to all who love it. If there is no Christ in the man's heart, this is all mere worldliness — but if he loves Christ, that beautiful name, with all its honour, glorifies Christ himself.
Coming back to your own question, therefore, it seems to me you should rejoice in the privilege that Christ gives you, and thank him for the ability he has bestowed upon you, that you may write beautiful things which will honour your Master and carry comfort and cheer and encouragement to the hearts of the people. Do not be afraid that Christ is jealous of the honour that comes to you. Indeed, he rejoices in it and seeks to have the honour grow brighter and brighter, as long as you use it all to make his name more glorious, to spread the influence of his love among people, and to help other lives.
Remember this also, that Christ does not care for mere glory and honour in itself. What he wants is that we may make his name known to people, that blessing may come to them through his teachings. The only true way of showing our love for Christ is by loving others in his name, interpreting his love to them. Your mission, therefore, in the world, is to tell people all you can of the love of Christ, of his goodness, his compassion, his kindness, his patience, his mercy, that they may learn to love him too, and that they may receive from him the comfort and the joy and the peace and the blessing which you have received and which have made your life so beautiful.
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