Vain Glory
A young preacher once said to me "that he wanted to get his name before the brotherhood before he got too old". That was about six years ago and I have heard only a few passing comments of him since. His objective was to reach the top in the eyes of the brethren. I have never seen another man so bold in his objective however, being an old sore-headed critic, I fear that I have recognized the same in others. Not all among the liberals!
We don't have many outstanding men in the church. Men such as W. W. Otey are indeed great men in the eyes of those that know and believe the truth. Brother Otey's writings indicate that he never had but one objective, and that was to be the Lord's servant. I am sure that greatness in the eyes of men was never in his mind. He is respected, not because he sought to be, but rather because he was seeking to please the Master. Some today seek, and are desirous of the respect of the brethren Gal. 5:26), but are not striving to please God. Their objective is to have their name mean something among the brethren.
Those that strive for such goal always have a very high opinion of themselves. They look on others as if they were just loose packing around a precious vase. They have an answer for every problem and all must give heed when they speak. Such make poor company on Sunday afternoon! Those that are close to them seldom think very highly of them, but this doesn't matter as they have such high opinion of themselves. This is not a new thing as the Pharisees loved the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets (Luke 11:43). Paul revealed heavens evaluation of these glory hunters in Gal. 6:3. "For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself."
In society we call them climbers. In religion we call them glory hunters, someone seeking preeminence among his fellows. In the army we called them what they were! James and John once felt the desire to be greater than their fellows (Mt. 20:20-29). In the days of Jude we see that men were holding men's persons in admiration because of advantage (Jude 16). The climber strives for naught, "For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away". (Luke 9:25). Why can a man not see himself as he is? Paul said for us to examine ourselves, and to prove ourselves. (2 Co. 13:5). From this I gather that it is possible for a man to see himself as he is. What glory are we seeking? What is our objective? The carnal mind seeks for human glory. The spiritual mind seeks to please the Master.