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Beyond words: How not to glorify oneself – Part 2

By Baba Aladura, Elder (Dr) Israel Akinadewo (Omoeri)
16 December 2018   |   2:27 am
Abraham was to look for a wife for his son Isaac, and sent his servant to go in search of the virtuous woman (Genesis 24-26). In Genesis 24:12 the servant said, “… O Lord God of my master Abraham....

Israel Akinadewo

Exemplary Instances Of How Not To Glorify Oneself The Servant of Abraham

The servant of Abraham
Abraham was to look for a wife for his son Isaac, and sent his servant to go in search of the virtuous woman (Genesis 24-26). In Genesis 24:12 the servant said, “… O Lord God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham.” In verse 27, after the servant was able to get Rebecca, who later became the wife of Isaac, he equally said this: “…blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I being in the way, the Lord led me to the house of my master’s brethren.”

This faithful servant knew that the achievement was not his, but that of God through his master, Abraham. This is unlike many today, who will act in a way to discredit their leaders, ascribe any achievement to themselves and even go to the extent of saying their leaders/bosses are using their glory. This is the more reason the success of people is short-lived.

Moses
Despite the fact that God used Moses for many miracles, he never for once ascribed any success to himself. When he led the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt, himself and the people of Israel praised the name of the Lord, as the One that fought the battle on their behalf (Exodus 15). Moses never called the people of God, for the acknowledgement of his (Moses’) ‘spiritual dexterity.’

However, the day he expressed anger, which to God was equal to Moses thinking that he had the power to do all that God had been using him to do, was the time that he lost the opportunity to lead the people to the Promised Land. Numbers 20:1-13 explained how Moses smote the rock in anger for water to come out, as against the instruction that himself and Aaron should speak to the rock, whilst holding the rod.

God saw this action from the perspective of Moses thinking he could do things in his own way; that the expression of anger to the people He had sent him to, portrayed a man, who thought he deserved praises from God’s children. That expressed anger brought out hidden self-glorification in the man that acted as if God had no replacement for him, etc. See also Deuteronomy 3:23-29.

In both secular and most especially spiritual leadership, we should desist from acting as if we are superior to those who have either chosen us or appointed/elected us to such leadership positions. Anytime we show our leaders we are unable to meet up with the set time, or doing things our own way, as against the instruction of those who sent us, it is nothing but expression of hidden self-glorification. In addition, we should guard our utterances properly, so as not to say things that will construe our displaying I-am-better-than-you attitude.

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To Be Continued

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