Values Not Centered on Loving and Glorifying God in Scripture
Scripture identifies several values and attitudes that stand in opposition to loving and glorifying God, often contrasting them with a God-centered life. These include self-love, the pursuit of human glory, pleasure-seeking, and worldly affections.
One significant deviation from a God-centered life is selfishness, which is described as contrary to God's law [3]. The example of Christ condemns selfishness, as seen in passages like Romans 15:3 and 2 Corinthians 8:9, which highlight Christ's selflessness [3]. Selfishness manifests in various ways, such as being lovers of oneself, pleasing oneself, seeking one's own interests, pursuing gain, desiring undue precedence, and living for oneself [3]. It is also inconsistent with Christian love, as noted in 1 Corinthians 13:5, and can be seen in the neglect of the poor (1 John 3:17) [3]. Even serving God or performing duty for reward, rather than out of genuine devotion, is identified as a form of selfishness [3].
The pursuit of glory from other people, rather than from God, is another value condemned in scripture. John 12:43 states that some "loved glory from men rather than glory from God" [1]. Similarly, John 5:44 questions how individuals can believe if they "receive honoure one of another and seke not the honoure that commeth of God only" [4]. This indicates a misplaced focus on human approval over divine honor. The apostle Paul, in contrast, expressed an aversion to glorying in anything other than the Lord, rejecting glorying in outward privileges, personal righteousness, or human achievements [7, 10]. Instead, he emphasized glorying in the Lord Jesus Christ as the source of all gifts and wisdom [10].
A focus on pleasure rather than God is also identified as a characteristic of those who are not God-centered. Second Timothy 3:4 describes individuals as "lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God" [2]. This aligns with the idea that affections should be supremely set upon God, His commandments, His house and worship, and His people [6]. The Bible also warns against "lustful passion like the Gentiles who do not know God" (1 Thessalonians 4:5), further emphasizing that unbridled desires are not aligned with a God-centered life [5].
Furthermore, scripture cautions against loving "the world" and its values. This does not refer to the physical world or its inhabitants in general, but rather to the system of worldly values and desires that stand in opposition to God [12]. John Gill explains that "the world" in this context refers to the men of the world who "lie in wickedness" and whose affections are set on worldly things [12]. The affections of believers, conversely, should be set on heavenly things (Colossians 3:1-2) [6].
Worship that is not accompanied by a sincere heart and godly actions is also considered displeasing to God. Isaiah 29:13 describes people who use "pious-sounding language in their prayers and talk" but "did not truly honor God" in their hearts [8]. Their worship was based on "man-made rules and regulations rather than God’s word" [8]. Proverbs 21:3 reinforces this, stating that "God is not pleased with worship unless godly actions flow from a godly heart" [11]. This highlights that outward religious observance without inward devotion and ethical conduct is not a value centered on glorifying God.
God's values also differ from human standards of power and wealth. Exodus 22:22-23 demonstrates God's protective stance toward the vulnerable—the widow, orphan, and foreigner—indicating that God "does not value people on the basis of their power or wealth, the standards accepted by most humans" [9]. Instead, God values people because they bear His image [9]. This contrasts with human tendencies to prioritize status and material possessions.
Sources
- John “John 12:43 (Darby) — for they loved glory from men rather than glory fromGod.”
- II Timothy “II Timothy 3:4 (BSB) — traitorous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Selfishness — Contrary to the law of God -- Le 19:18; Mt 22:39; Jas 2:8. The example of Christ condemns -- Joh 4:34; Ro 15:3; 2Co 8:9. God hates -- Mal 1:10. Exhibited in Being lovers of ourselves. -- 2Ti 3:2. Pleasing ourselves. -- Ro 15:1. Seeking our own. -- 1Co 10:33; Php 2:21. Seeking after gain. -- Isa 56:11. Seeking undue precedence. -- Mt 20:21. Living to ourselves. -- 2Co 5:15. Neglect of the poor. -- 1Jo 3:17. Serving God for reward. -- Mal 1:10. Performing duty for reward. -- Mic 3:11. Inconsistent with Christian love -- 1Co 13:5. Inconsistent with communi”
- John “John 5:44 (Tyndale) — How can ye beleve which receave honoure one of another and seke not the honoure that commeth of God only?”
- I Thessalonians “I Thessalonians 4:5 (BSB) — not in lustful passion like the Gentiles who do not know God;”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Affections, The — Should be supremely set upon God -- De 6:3; Mr 12:30. Should be set Upon the commandments of God. -- Ps 19:8-10; 119:20,97,103,167. Upon the house and worship of God. -- 1Ch 29:3; Ps 26:8; 27:4; 84:1,2. Upon the people of God. -- Ps 16:3; Ro 12:10; 2Co 7:13-15; 1Th 2:8. Upon heavenly things. -- Col 3:1,2. Should be zealously engaged for God -- Ps 69:9; 119:139; Ga 4:18. Christ claims the first place in -- Mt 10:37; Lu 14:26. Enkindled by communion with Christ -- Lu 24:32. Blessedness of making God the object of -- Ps 91:14. Should not grow cold -- P”
- Galatians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Galatians 6:13: But God forbid that I should glory,.... The apostle, on the contrary, expresses his aversion to glorying in anything these men did; not in his outward carnal privileges, as a Jew; nor in his moral, civil, and legal righteousness; nor in his gifts and attainments; nor in his labours and success, as of himself; nor in the flesh of others, or in any outward corporeal subjection to any ordinance, legal or evangelical; his glorying and rejoicing were rather in the spirituality, the faith, hope, love, patience, order, and steadfastness of the saints, than in anything in ”
- Isaiah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Isaiah 29:13: 29:13 These people used pious-sounding language in their prayers and talk (see Matt 15:8; Mark 7:6-7), but they did not truly honor God. • In their hearts, they were not committed to the Lord at all. • In their worship, they followed man-made rules and regulations rather than God’s word.”
- Exodus (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Exodus 22:22: 22:22-23 The widow, the orphan, and the foreigner were in a helpless and economically disadvantaged position. God, by his protective stance toward these persons, demonstrated that he does not value people on the basis of their power or wealth, the standards accepted by most humans. Instead, God values people because they share his image (Gen 1:27).”
- 2 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Corinthians 10:15: But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. Not in himself, nor in his outward circumstances of life, or inward endowments of mind; not in his natural or acquired parts; not in his wisdom, knowledge, learning, and eloquence; nor in his own righteousness, labours, and services, much less in other men's labours; nor in his own sense of himself; nor in the opinion and popular applause of others; but in the Lord Jesus Christ, as the author and donor of all gifts, natural and spiritual; in his wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption; and in his j”
- Proverbs (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Proverbs 21:3: 21:3 God is not pleased with worship unless godly actions flow from a godly heart (see Ps 40:6-8; Mic 6:6-8).”
- 1 John (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 John 2:15: Love not the world,.... The habitable earth, the world in which men live; this is not to be loved by saints, as if it was their habitation, where they are always to be, and so loath to remove from it, seeing they are but sojourners, and pilgrims, and strangers here; this is not their rest, nor dwellingplace, their continuing city, or proper country, that is heaven. Nor should they love the men of the world, who are as they came into it, are of it, and mind the things of it, and lie in wickedness, and are wicked men; for though these are to be loved, as men, as fellow ”