What Are You Chasing?

We’re trying to do everything on our own to ensure that we get the recognition we think we deserve.

We’re doing everything to point back to ourselves. More playing time, more stats, more crowds cheering us on. But it falls flat. The praise doesn’t bring the peace we thought it would.

But what if there’s more than chasing after awards that fade, records that get broken, and a name that gets buried in the annals as time passes? What if there’s a deeper purpose for our talents?

The truth is that we were never made to hold our own glory. There is a God who made us in His image, for His glory.

When you win a game, achieve an athletic goal, shine in a performance or break a record, your natural response as a competitor is to want the credit and whatever reward is attached to that success. Another way you might describe it is “glory,” which can come in the form of recognition, renown, prestige, fame, or honor. There’s nothing inherently wrong in desiring good outcomes from your hard work. But if that’s your number one goal as a competitor, it will never be as fulfilling as you hope it might be. You’ll always be tempted to chase your own glory if you don’t understand your true identity and purpose.

Receiving glory in the form of honor, praise, admiration, or rewards will naturally occur throughout your athletic career. But when you find yourself chasing glory, it becomes a problem. It puts you out of balance with God’s plan, which for Him to receive all the glory for what He has done for you and through you.

Like Adam and Eve in the garden and the people of Babylon, you can find yourself chasing glory in the form of popularity, awards, records, scholarships or even Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) deals and professional contracts. That sinful nature tries to compel you toward pride, selfishness, struggles with identity and self-worth, idolatry and attempting to claim God’s glory for yourself. But God didn’t create you to handle the weight of His glory. Instead, He created you to give Him the glory and have peace knowing that Jesus is perfectly sufficient in every aspect of your life.

The first step toward true peace and fulfillment is acknowledging that you are chasing after something that God never intended for you. As you step away from the sin of pride and move closer to Him, it’s important to remember that chasing glory for yourself is a vain pursuit. It won’t fulfill you or bring you closer to God. For His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what He has made. As a result, people are without excuse. 

“For though they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became worthless, and their senseless hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools.” –Romans 1:21-22

As you better understand the nature of God’s glory, you will start to move from chasing your glory to reflecting His glory. And His glory is what matters.

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Live It Out

Theme Verse – Romans 12:2 “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Question – Are you chasing after something that isn't part of God's plan for you? 

Challenge – Find a Bible verse on God's glory and ask yourself what you can do to give Him glory in your day today.

We want you to join us as we go through the Glory journey this year! Discover Chasing Glory, Received Glory, Reflecting Glory and Lasting Glory in your heart and purpose by diving into God’s Word and joining us through monthly content and challenges. Visit fcaglory.org and start today!

*If you read this article and aren’t in relationship with Christ yet but would like to know more, we invite you to go through FCA’s The FOUR that explains how an everlasting and fulfilling life with God is possible.