Why is the love of human glory, rather than God’s glory, so contradictory to faith? One is that true faith in Jesus gives all glory to God and none to ourselves. When you come to Jesus in faith, you surrender the right to claim any glory for yourself. He owes us none. He will glorify us in due season.
The other reason the love of human glory is contradictory to faith is that faith is a drinking of living water for the satisfaction of our souls. And the well of that water is the glory of Christ. And when we are satisfied with him, the enslaving power of the craving for human glory is broken. Broken by the power of a superior satisfaction.
When you have tasted the beauty of God and the approval of God in Christ, the addiction to human approval is broken. And you are free.
By John Piper. ©2013 Desiring God Foundation. Website: desiringGod.org. Used by permission.