Glorify God
All creation testifies to the glory of God (Psalm 19:1). When we look at the wonders of creation, we cannot help but see the glory of God.
We often give more attention to ourselves and less to God than we should. At times, we put ourselves in God’s place in our lives, treating Him like a ‘cosmic vending machine’. However, the catechism teaches that our ultimate purpose is not to serve ourselves, but to serve God. We are not to make God glorious, as He already is. All creation testifies to the glory of God (Psalm 19:1). The ultimate goal is not to make God glorious again, but to give glory to God. Our chief end is to glorify and enjoy Him forever. Even those who face the final judgment give glory to God, as they display His perfect justice and judgment of sin. When we look at the wonders of creation, we cannot help but see the glory of God. Jesus fulfilled the commands of God, thereby glorifying God the Father in heaven (John 17:4).
Glorifying God is not limited to our worship alone, although it is an important aspect. We are to glorify God in everything we do. Whether it’s cleaning our house, being a good spouse, or a loving parent, we glorify God in every aspect of our lives. The Bible instructs us to do everything as if we are doing it for the Lord, not for people (Colossians 3:23). This means that even the smallest tasks, like making the bed, should be done with the intention of glorifying God. The Children’s catechism states it beautifully, “How are you to glorify God?” “By loving Him and doing what He commands.” These two aspects go hand in hand. We cannot understand what He commands in the Bible unless we understand His character, which in turn drives us to love and obey. The ultimate end of man, as seen in the book of Revelation, is to give glory to God, “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created” (Revelation 4:11).