Is God a cruel being, like the tales suggest, seeking only glory and honor? Absolutely not! He is a just and distant judge who already knows the truth in His court (in the universe). He does indeed desire worship, but it must manifest through truth, faith, love, and hope in your life, as well as through the pursuit of saving souls. Your attitude towards those around you reflects your worship, or conversely, your lack thereof. If you try to hide the truth about God or from Him (similar to disrespecting a court), you risk not earning the "honors" from the Great Judge of the Supreme Court.

Part 1

Step 1. Avoid lies and do not let pride or ambition distort God's purpose.

Step 1

Do not deceive; do not let pride or your personal ambitions distort God's purpose. "Remember that you are always under God's watch; He knows the true nature of things, so honor His absolute knowledge and power, give Him glory, and confess everything. There is no point in lying—He already knows everything in advance." You can serve Him by acting as His representative (His agent) and helper (His social worker) in His court. Serve others and Him according to your talents...

  • Example: During the war, Achan, a warrior, sought personal gain by hiding gold, silver, and beautiful garments, hoping for a reward for his role in the destruction of Jericho under Joshua's command.
  • "And Joshua said to Achan, ‘My son, give glory to the Eternal, the God of Israel, and tell the truth. Confess to me what you have done; do not hide anything!’" (Joshua, 7:19).

Step 2. Reject the desire to compete with God or to surpass Him, as Jesus did.

Step 2

Resist the urge to compete with God, as Jesus did. When Jesus healed the man born blind, the Pharisees tried to discredit Him while still praising the Lord.

  • "So they called the blind man again and said to him, ‘Give God the glory, telling the truth; we know that this Man is a sinner’" (John, 9:24).
  • To gain recognition from him, they began pressuring him. Previously, the blind beggar had chosen his path: only the truth, to give "praise" to God, and he responded to them: ‘Whether He is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I know, that I was blind, and now I see’" (John, 9:25).

Step 3. Acknowledge your mistakes and repent before God, as the prophet Jeremiah called for.

Step 3

Repent and sincerely confess to God, as the prophet Jeremiah did, urging God's people to repent and acknowledge their pride. "Listen and give heed; do not be proud, for the Lord speaks. Give glory to the Lord your God before it is too late..." (Jeremiah, 13:15-17).

Step 4. Give the Lord your best—not the second-rate—as true worship must elevate His praise.

Step 4

Give the Lord only the best—not the second-rate—since true worship must elevate His glory. As a devoted priest, Malachi exposed the deception of priests and laypeople who brought subpar gifts (Malachi, 1:13-14). The prophet again insisted on the truth. "If you will not listen and take to heart to give glory to My name, says the Lord of hosts, then I will send a curse upon you and I will curse your blessings" (Malachi, 2:2).

  • Bring all the tithes (including extra gifts from your earnings) to the house of the Lord from your best possessions, especially the first fruits—such as your most anticipated profits from early earnings (the sweetest first fruits)—before your stores run low or you face losses: ‘Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the first fruits of all your produce: and your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine’.

Step 5. Choose the path of praising the Lord and find new reasons for joy every day, apart from worldly pleasures that may distance you from Him. Honor Him and feel the "beauty of His holiness" (1 Chronicles, 16:25-29) as it reaches you.

Step 5

  • "Clothed in splendor and majesty, wrapped in beauty and holiness" (Psalm, 96:4-9).
  • The psalmist David praised Him for the beauty of His holiness, as the sounds of thunder and storms reflect Divine grandeur (Psalm, 29:1-3). This is akin to the beauty of angels who praise Him in the heavens; also consider the beauty of the saints who have witnessed the divine nature of the Lord.