What to do With Glory

David is known for having a heart that is after God's heart. Along
my reading a reflection of him I see so much depth. His heart for
the Lord is expressed and exhibited in the very details of his life.
II Samuel 8 his victories begin to mount. As is often said,
victories can do more to bring us down than defeats. Victories can
change us subtly under the radar. The heart that once wanted to
serve becomes one that likes the attention, the celebration, the
being special. Truth is that any of these are not wrong. Feeling
excited and pleased (proud of what we have done) is not all bad.
Being celebrated is a cool thing in life. Only when these externals
alter who we are, how we see ourselves and how we relate to
ourselves, God and others does the victory bring defeat.

As David's victories mount his heart does not! When another king
sends his congratulations along with gifts David accepts... and then
dedicates the gifts to the Lord. That act of dedication keeps the
dots connected in his heart. To the victor go the spoils and the
victor is... the Lord.

My observation is that in an attempt to defray the glory people often
push it back immediately, in the face of the person who just said
their congratulations. I haven't always experienced that as whole
and healthy. Still, the passionate act of remembering who we are,
remembering with acts who is leading, of formal acts of dedication
that are more than momentary but deeply worshiping and sitting in the
Lord's provision seem to be the keys to staying healthy. What is
said in a few words would be a longer experience, the act of
dedication. Surface words of "Well praise God" are different than an
elongated sitting in the presence of the Lord and experiencing the
act of dedication.

May the blessings of God change us only appropriately.