Part 8: You're So Vain

Empty glory. That’s what human praise and recognition are–empty glory. But how many of us strive for the praise and recognition of others? Maybe for validation. Maybe for our sense of self-worth. Maybe to make up for a missing love. It’s even possible to do good things so that others will see us and praise us. How many of us need to be seen by others so that we can “matter?” Evagrius called this tempting thought vainglory. This temptation is different–it wants you to do the right thing for the wrong reason. In our human need to be “seen,” vainglory never wants you to realize that your Father truly sees you and already loves you completely.