Prioritizing God's Glory in Decision Making

Prioritizing God's glory in decision-making involves recognizing God's supreme authority and seeking to honor Him in all choices, rather than focusing on self-interest or other considerations ^{[7, 10]}. This principle is rooted in the understanding that God is the "Father and Lord of all things" ^[7] and that His name alone is excellent, encompassing His power, wisdom, goodness, and faithfulness ^[11].

The concept of God's glory is central to biblical thought. The psalmist declares that God is glorified by praise ^[3], and that His majesty, glory, excellency, greatness, holiness, wisdom, power, goodness, mercy, and loving-kindness are all reasons for such praise ^[3]. Christ himself is described as having glory and excellency as God, as the Son of God, as one with the Father, and as the image of God ^[6]. Therefore, decisions that prioritize God's glory align with His inherent nature and worth.

Scripture emphasizes that doing "righteousness and judgment" is chosen by God "rather than sacrifice" ^[1]. This suggests that ethical and just actions, which reflect God's character, are more pleasing to Him than mere ritualistic observances. Josephus notes that those who would live well and give laws should first consider the Divine nature and imitate God's operations as much as humanly possible ^[7]. This implies that understanding God's character is foundational to making decisions that honor Him.

Decision-making in service to God requires commitment and a wholehearted pursuit ^[2]. It means seeking God with the heart, keeping His commandments, being on His side, and following Him fully ^[2]. This commitment stands in opposition to a divided service, double-mindedness, or "halting between two opinions" ^[2]. The blessedness of such decisive commitment is affirmed in scripture ^[2].

The Bible also speaks to the "providence of God," which encompasses His care over His works, His preservation and provision for His creatures, and His special preservation, protection, and leading of His saints ^[5]. This understanding of God's active involvement in the world suggests that human decisions are made within the context of His overarching plan. While God's "determinate purpose" governs all events, this doctrine of predestination is acknowledged as having "many difficulties" and belonging to the "secret things" of God ^[4]. Nevertheless, the recognition of God's providence encourages believers to seek His will in their choices.

Matthew Henry, a Nonconformist commentator, emphasizes that "boasting is here for ever excluded" when it comes to God's glory ^[10]. one tradition states that any mercy received, service performed, or success gained should not be attributed to one's own merits but "ascribe it wholly to God" ^[10]. This perspective underscores that human actions, even good ones, derive their ultimate significance from God's glory, not from human achievement. Henry also highlights that God's "supreme presidency and power" are asserted in all councils and courts, and that magistrates, though mighty, are under God's eye and hand ^[9]. This extends the principle of prioritizing God's glory to civic and governmental decisions as well.

The psalmist's resolution to praise God "with my whole heart" and to employ his entire being in this work illustrates the depth of commitment required ^[8]. This wholehearted devotion to God's honor is a key aspect of prioritizing His glory in all aspects of life, including decision-making.

Sources

Proverbs “Proverbs 21:3 (YLT) — To do righteousness and judgment, Is chosen of Jehovah rather than sacrifice.”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Decision — Necessary to the service of God -- Lu 9:62. Exhortations to -- Jos 24:14,15. Exhibited in Seeking God with the heart. -- 2Ch 15:12. Keeping the commandments of God. -- Ne 10:29. Being on the Lord's side. -- Ex 32:26. Following God fully. -- Nu 14:24; 32:12; Jos 14:8. Serving God. -- Isa 56:6. Loving God perfectly. -- De 6:5. Blessedness of. -- Jos 1:7. Opposed to A divided service. -- Mt 6:24. Double-mindedness. -- Jas 1:8. Halting between two opinions. -- 1Ki 18:21. Turning to the right or left. -- De 5:32. Not setting the heart aright. -- Ps 78:8,37. Exe”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Praise — God is worthy of -- 2Sa 22:4. Christ is worthy of -- Re 5:12. God is glorified by -- Ps 22:23; 50:23. Offered to Christ -- Joh 12:13. Acceptable through Christ -- Heb 13:15. Is due to God on account of His majesty. -- Ps 96:1,6; Isa 24:14. His glory. -- Ps 138:5; Eze 3:12. His excellency. -- Ex 15:7; Ps 148:13. His greatness. -- 1Ch 16:25; Ps 145:3. His holiness. -- Ex 15:11; Isa 6:3. His wisdom. -- Da 2:20; Jude 1:25. His power. -- Ps 21:13. His goodness. -- Ps 107:8; 118:1; 136:1; Jer 33:11. His mercy. -- 2Ch 20:21; Ps 89:1; 118:1-4; 136:1-26. His loving-k”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Predestination — This word is properly used only with reference to God's plan or purpose of salvation. The Greek word rendered "predestinate" is found only in these six passages, Acts 4:28; Rom. 8:29, 30; 1 Cor. 2:7; Eph. 1:5, 11; and in all of them it has the same meaning. They teach that the eternal, sovereign, immutable, and unconditional decree or "determinate purpose" of God governs all events. This doctrine of predestination or election is beset with many difficulties. It belongs to the "secret things" of God. But if we take the revealed word of God as our guid”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Providence of God, The — Is his care over his works -- Ps 145:9. Is exercised in Preserving his creatures. -- Ne 9:6; Ps 36:6; Mt 10:29. Providing for his creatures. -- Ps 104:27,28; 136:25; 147:9; Mt 6:26. The special preservation of saints. -- Ps 37:28; 91:11; Mt 10:30. Prospering saints. -- Ge 24:48,56. Protecting saints. -- Ps 91:4; 140:7. Delivering saints. -- Ps 91:3; Isa 31:5. Leading saints. -- De 8:2,15; Isa 31:5. Leading saints. -- De 8:2,15; Isa 63:12. Bringing His words to pass. -- Nu 26:65; Jos 21:45; Lu 21:32,33. Ordering the ways of men. -- Pr 16:9; 19”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Excellency and Glory of Christ, The — As God -- Joh 1:1-5; Php 2:6,9,10. As the Son of God -- Mt 3:17; Heb 1:6,8. As one with the Father -- Joh 10:30,38. As the First-born -- Col 1:15,18. As the First-begotten -- Heb 1:6. As Lord of lords, &c -- Re 17:14. As the image of God -- Col 1:15; Heb 1:3. As creator -- Joh 1:3; Col 1:16; Heb 1:2. As the Blessed of God -- Ps 45:2. As Mediator -- 1Ti 2:5; Heb 8:6. As Prophet -- De 18:15,16; Ac 3:22. As Priest -- Ps 110:4; Heb 4:15. As King -- Isa 6:1-5; Joh 12:41. As Judge -- Mt 16:27; 25:31,33. As Shepherd -- Isa 40:10,11; Joh”
Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 11, section 4: life well, and give laws to others, in the first place should consider the Divine nature; and, upon the contemplation of God's operations, should thereby imitate the best of all patterns, so far as it is possible for human nature to do, and to endeavor to follow after it: neither could the legislator himself have a right mind without such a contemplation; nor would any thing he should write tend to the promotion of virtue in his readers; I mean, unless they be taught first of all, that God is the Father and Lord of all things, a”
Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 111:1: The title of the psalm being Hallelujah, the psalmist (as every author ought to have) has an eye to his title, and keeps to his text. I. He resolves to praise God himself, Psa 111:1. What duty we call others to we must oblige and excite ourselves to; nay, whatever others do, whether they will praise God or no, we and our houses must determine to do it, we and our hearts; for such is the psalmist's resolution here: I will praise the Lord with my whole heart. My heart, my whole heart, being devoted to his honour, shall be employed in this work; and this in the asse”
Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 82:1: We have here, I. God's supreme presidency and power in all councils and courts asserted and laid down, as a great truth necessary to be believed both by princes and subjects (Psa 82:1): God stands, as chief director, in the congregation of the mighty, the mighty One, in coetu fortis - in the councils of the prince, the supreme magistrate, and he judges among the gods, the inferior magistrates; both the legislative and the executive power of princes is under his eye and his hand. Observe here, 1. The power and honour of magistrates; they are the mighty. They are so”
Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 115:1: Sufficient care is here taken to answer both the pretensions of self and the reproaches of idolaters. I. Boasting is here for ever excluded, Psa 115:1. Let no opinion of our own merits have any room either in our prayers or in our praises, but let both centre in God's glory. 1. Have we received any mercy, gone through any service, or gained any success? We must not assume the glory of it to ourselves, but ascribe it wholly to God. We must not imagine that we do any thing for God by our own strength, or deserve any thing from God by our own righteousness; but all ”
Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 148:13: Let them praise the name of the Lord, His nature and perfections, and celebrate the glory of them; and his wonderful works, and the blessings of his goodness, both of providence and grace; even all the above creatures and things, celestial and terrestrial, for the following reasons; for his name alone is excellent; the name of the Lord is himself, who is excellent in power, wisdom, goodness, truth, and faithfulness, and in all other perfections of his nature; his works, by which he is known, are excellent, both of nature and of grace, and proclaim his glory; his S”

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