In My Own Devotional Time This Morning, I Noticed The Following About Jesus:

Jesus said in John 8:50: “And though I have no wish to glorify myself, God is going to glorify me. He is the true judge.”

Again, in John 8:54: “If I want glory for myself, it doesn’t count. But it is my Father who will glorify me.”

Solomon wrote in Proverbs 25:27: “It is not good to eat too much honey, and it’s not good to seek honor for yourself.”

Again, Solomon in Proverbs 27:2 “Let someone else praise you, not your own mouth—a stranger, not your own lips.

Even the Son of God did not seek to glorify Himself. How much less should we?

The humility of Jesus in John 8 stands as a profound lesson for we who follow Him. When He said, “I have no wish to glorify myself… it is my Father who will glorify me” (John 8:50, 54 NLT), He revealed a divine principle—true greatness never seeks its own praise. Though He was equal with God, Jesus chose to leave His glory and submit to the Father’s will (Philippians 2:6-8). His refusal to seek self-glorification shows perfect obedience and trust in the Father’s timing and justice. In a world driven by recognition, Jesus modeled the opposite—servanthood, restraint, and complete dependence on divine approval rather than human applause.

Solomon expressed the same truth centuries earlier: “It is not good to seek honor for yourself” (Proverbs 25:27) and “Let someone else praise you, not your own lips” (Proverbs 27:2). To pursue our own honor is as harmful to the soul as gluttony is to the body—it feeds pride and distances us from the heart of God. Jesus’ example teaches that honor sought is hollow, but honor given by God is eternal. If the Son of God would not glorify Himself, how much less should we, who are but His servants? Our task is not to seek renown, but to live faithfully; and when we humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, He will lift us up in due time (1 Peter 5:6).

“The Glory That Comes from God Alone”

Scripture Focus

• John 8:50 – “And though I have no wish to glorify myself, God is going to glorify me. He is the true judge.”
• John 8:54 – “If I want glory for myself, it doesn’t count. But it is my Father who will glorify me.”
• Proverbs 25:27 – “It is not good to eat too much honey, and it’s not good to seek honor for yourself.”
• Proverbs 27:2 – “Let someone else praise you, not your own mouth—a stranger, not your own lips.”

The Example of Jesus’ Humility

In John 8, Jesus faced a hostile audience questioning His authority and identity. Yet, rather than asserting Himself with pride or demanding recognition, He said, “I have no wish to glorify myself.” Here, the Son of God revealed the source of Jesus’ humility — complete trust in the Father to exalt Him in due time.

Though He was equal with God (Philippians 2:6), Jesus did not seek equality as something to apprehend or display. Instead, He emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant and obeying even to death on the cross. This is not the humility of a lesser being, but the humility of perfect love — love that seeks not its own glory but the glory of the Father.

The Wisdom of Solomon: Guarding Against Self-Praise

A thousand years before Jesus came to earth, Solomon warned that “it is not good to seek honor for yourself.” In Proverbs, self-glorification is like eating too much honey — pleasant at first, but ultimately it will make you sick. Just as excessive sweetness spoils the stomach, excessive self-praise corrupts the heart.

When we seek to elevate ourselves, we compete with God for glory that belongs to Him alone. But when we humble ourselves, as Solomon counseled — letting “another praise us” rather than our own lips — we make ourselves able to receive Blessing from the Lord. True honor is not seized; it is given.

The Father Glorifies the Humble

The principle that guided Jesus’ ministry is the same that governs God’s kingdom today: “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Matthew 23:12). The Father glorified Jesus precisely because He refused to glorify Himself.

In the same way, when believers choose humility, obedience, and quiet faithfulness, God Himself becomes their defender and rewarder. As Peter wrote, “Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time” (1 Peter 5:6).

There is no need for self-promotion when the Judge of all the earth knows our hearts and sees our works. In His perfect timing, He will glorify those who glorify Him.

Living for God’s Glory Alone: A Practical Lesson

Resist the urge to self-promote. Our culture prizes visibility and acclaim, but spiritual fruit grows in hidden places — in prayer, in service, and in obedience when no one sees.

Trust God’s timing. Jesus waited for the Father to glorify Him. In the same way, our honor will come from God, not people.

Reflect Christ’s character. Every act of humility points others to Jesus, who said, “Let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father” (Matthew 5:16).

Even the Son of God would not glorify Himself — though He alone was worthy of all glory. How much less should we, who depend upon His grace for every breath? The Christian life is not about being seen, but about revealing the One who sees all. The path of humility may seem lowly, but in the end, it leads to the highest throne — the glory that comes from God alone.

Categories: Robert Clifton Robinson