Not to Us, but to God be the Glory

We are a soccer family, and have been for decades, so the World Cup coming to the US, Canada, and Mexico in 2026 was a lot of fun for us. It marked the first time in history that three nations jointly hosted the quadrennial event, and one of the host cities was Seattle, just south of our home.

Though many of the World Cup matches were in Seattle, Alean and I were not able to attend in person. Instead, we watched them from our home and experienced that familiar sensation of “Ooo, I’ve been there!” as we saw various shots of the Lumen Field stadium where we have attended numerous Seattle Sounders matches.

Watching the World Cup at home means one must also listen to the talking heads making commentary prior to and following the matches, as well as at halftime. One of those commentators was Swedish former footballer, Zlatan Ibrahimović.

Self-Aggrandizement

With a storied career, Ibrahimović is one of the most decorated players in the history of soccer. But, with that same storied career, Ibrahimović is equally well known for his legendary arrogance. This is so much the case that his expressions of conceit have become known as “Zlatan Moments.” Just a handful of the thousands of possible examples:

Commenting on the World Cup crowd size: ‘I don’t know if they are all here to see me, or to watch the game but…’
Arsene Wenger asked me to have a trial with Arsenal when I was seventeen. I turned it down. Zlatan doesn’t do auditions.
I don’t need a trophy to tell myself that I am the best.
I can’t help but laugh at how perfect I am.
If anything, the children of Paris should be giving me even more money for having the privilege of being in the same city as my incredible quality.
When I say I am God, you think I’m joking or not? I’m not joking. I feel like God.

I believe you get the idea.

The Glory

Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory.
– Psalm 115:1a, ESV

Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.
– Psalm 29:1-2, ESV

Glory is a fascinating concept. Glory, high honor, renown, fame…these are things that belong to God alone, not to humanity. While Zlatan proclaims his own glory, God has no need to do so. His glory screams at us from everything around us.

The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
– Psalm 115:1a, ESV

Not only do the heavens declare God’s glory, but God’s glory is above those heavens.

The LORD is high above all nations,
    and his glory above the heavens!
Who is like the LORD our God,
    who is seated on high,
who looks far down
    on the heavens and the earth?
– Psalm 113:4-6, ESV

Humanity’s glory fades. Those who fawn and gush over Zlatan will pass on with time. He will be forgotten. Narcissistic athletes, musicians, and politicians all pass on and fade into history. God’s glory does not, and will not fade.

The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works.
– Psalm 104:31, WBT

When Humanity Seeks Glory

It is wholly inappropriate for a disciple of Jesus to chase after glory for himself/herself. Look at what God has to say about this very thing.

Thus says YHWH:
    “Let not the wise one glory in his wisdom,
        and let not the mighty one glory in his might,
        and let not the rich one glory in his riches;
    that but let the one glorying glory in this,
        understanding and knowing Me,
    that I am YHWH,
        exercising loving devotion,
    justice, and righteousness in the earth;
        for in these things I delight!”

– Jeremiah 9:23-24, BLB

It seems ludicrous that any man or woman of God could read that and still walk with a puffed chest and swollen head. But it happens. Let it not be so for you, Christ-follower. God sides with the humble.

God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
– James 4:6b, ESV

And just so we don’t miss it, or think it’s a mistake or no big deal, scripture says it a second time.

God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
– 1 Peter 5:5b, ESV

Both James and Peter are referencing Proverbs 3:34, where we read that very line, that God scoffs at the scoffers while giving grace to the humble or lowly. But God does more than shower grace and favor on the lowly. He chooses them while rejecting the Zlatans of the world. Look at what the apostle Paul said to the believers in Corinth.

But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.
– 1 Corinthians 1:27-29, ESV

God chooses those who are humble and meek. God chooses those who recognize that we have nothing within ourselves to appeal to for “greatness” or salvation. Everything I am, I am because Jesus has made that in me. And the end of the message, then, is this: