Misplaced Glory

Good morning,

I want to focus on something in Galatians 6:13 this morning, and that is what some call "sheep-stealing".  Here is the verse from both the NIV and The Message:

Not even those who are circumcised keep the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your circumcision in the flesh.

They only want you to be circumcised so they can boast of their success in recruiting you to their side. That is contemptible!

It appears that the Judaizers were very concerned that, not only the Galatians find Christ, but that they also were labeled or marked as "their converts".  Some commentaries put forward that these zealous Judaizers were hoping to escape prosecution by the great Jewish machine in Jerusalem by saying, "See, they are practically Jews!"  (Barnes commentary) Others have theorized that the Judaizers somehow earned brownie points for each convert they accumulated. In that case, their larger goal was to accrue glory and honor to themselves for having achieved in another person a physical change, when what Christ requires is a change of the heart.

I'm sad to say that Christians too fall into temptation in a similar way.  In our Christian culture, we seem to be mighty impressed by large numbers.  This is something that we need to guard against. And, I, too, have been guilty of this at times.  Instead we need to focus on being obedient to our calling and letting "God give the increase" (1 Corinthians 3:6).  If we follow Christ in obedience and reverence, giving Him the glory for the great things He does, there WILL be growth.  But, it should not be a contest among churches or small groups or ministries, nor is HUGE the goal.  When we focus on that outcome, we are ripe to fall into the temptation of patting ourselves on the back over what WE accomplished.  No.  This is sin, and we need to guard our hearts against it.

Is being a large congregation or ministry in and of itself "bad"?  No.  But, focusing on size is wrong-headed and giving ourselves the glory due to Jesus is misplaced glory.

For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things!  To Him be the glory, both now and forever!  Amen.  (Romans 11:36)