Chapter 72
The Hollow Chase for Glory
OF GLORY There is the name and the thing: the name is a voice which denotes and signifies the thing; the name is no part of the thing, nor of the substance; ‘tis a foreign piece joined to the thing, and outside it. God, who is all fulness in Himself and the height of all perfection, cannot augment or add anything to Himself within; but His name may be augmented and increased by the blessing and praise we attribute to His exterior works: which praise, seeing we cannot incorporate it in Him, forasmuch as He can have no accession of…
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Critical Thinking Exercise
The Recognition Audit
List three things you do regularly that others praise you for. For each one, honestly assess: Would you still do this if no one would ever know or acknowledge it? Write down what drives you in each case—internal satisfaction, external recognition, or a mix of both. This exercise helps you identify where the Recognition Trap might be operating in your own life.
Consider:
- •Be brutally honest—there's no shame in admitting you like recognition, the danger is when it becomes the only motivation
- •Look for patterns in when you feel most authentic versus when you feel like you're performing
- •Consider how your energy and satisfaction change when you focus on internal versus external rewards
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you did something good or right with no expectation of recognition. How did that feel different from times when you were hoping for praise? What does this tell you about your authentic motivations?
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