Read Psalm 50:16-23
"Whoever offers praise glorifies Me" (v. 23). Today we don't sacrifice bulls and goats and lambs. We don't have a literal altar to which we bring literal sacrifices. The sacrifices God wants from us come from our hearts. Even when we bring money--which is a literal and real sacrifice--it must be given from a heart of love, sincerity and faith. Our purpose for living is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.
The more you glorify God, the more you delight in Him. The more you delight in Him, the more you enjoy Him. Your life becomes enriched as you glorify God.
Is God selfish when He wants us to glorify Him? If I walked up to you and said, "I want you to glorify me by praising me," it would sound terribly proud. But God is the greatest Being in the universe. None is greater. None is higher. God is sovereign. So when He asks us to praise Him, He wants us to experience the highest thing possible--the praise and worship of God.
One way we praise God is by doing good works. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matt. 5:16). We praise Him through worship. We praise Him through an orderly, godly lifestyle. "And to him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of God" (v. 23). We have something to offer, and we have something to order. We offer praise by faith. We order our lives by obedience. Verse 23 is simply saying what the well-known hymn "Trust and Obey" says:
Trust and obey,
For there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus,
But to trust and obey.
God deserves to be glorified. And He gives us the privilege of worshipping Him. Do you delight in the Lord? Live in obedience to His Word and start enjoying Him.
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