The Latin phrase soli Deo gloria means “for the glory of God alone.” It was the last of five theological anchors dropped in the 16th century Reformation, a reformation which worked to reclaim the Scriptural teaching of God’s sovereign place over every aspect of the believer’s life. This is the truth that all of life is to be lived to the glory of God … and for His glory only.
Perhaps you have heard someone ask this question: “What is the chief end of man?” That is an important question and the simple answer is: “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever.” The reformers saw the importance for all of life to be lived by this standard.
Four hundred years after the Reformation it is easy to demonstrate that our interests have displaced God’s and even when we do His work we typically do it in our own way. The loss of God-dependence in the life of today’s church is shameful. It is the loss of His centrality that allows us to transform worship into entertainment, gospel preaching into marketing, believing into technique, being good into feeling good about ourselves, and faithfulness into being successful. This man-centered approach is nothing less than idolatry.
God does not exist to satisfy human ambitions; He exists to display the magnificence and splendor and brilliance and beauty of Himself. We must focus on God in our worship, rather than the satisfaction of our personal needs. God is sovereign in worship; we are not. Our concern must be for God’s kingdom, not our positive feelings or popularity or success.
Because salvation is of God and has been accomplished by God, it is for God’s glory alone, and therefore it is our reasonable service of worship to glorify Him in everything in every place in every way at every time. We must live our entire lives before the face of God, under the authority of God and for His credit alone.
This is the year of SOLI DEO GLORIA.
