How Do We Glorify God and Enjoy Him Forever?
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I didn’t grow up in a Reformed tradition; in fact, my particular church taught us to be leery of that denominational community. As I learned more about the Bible and ministered in different contexts, I started learning great truths from my Reformed brothers and sisters, even if I didn’t fully convert to the doctrine.
So I was in my late twenties before I read something by John Piper where he takes the phrase, “the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever,” and he adjusts it to his own vision in Christian Hedonism. In the book, Piper argues that our enjoyment of God isn’t separate from glorifying him. On the contrary, they are intricately connected. He says, “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.” Therefore, he calls us to seek joy in God above all else, teaching that true worship and obedience flow from delighting in him and making him the center of our lives.
Piper and others have written regarding this classic statement: “glorify God and enjoy him forever.” But how do we do this?
Where Does It Say to “Glorify God and Enjoy Him Forever”?
Originally, the phrase “glorify God and enjoy him forever” was written in the Westminster Shorter Catechism of 1646. A catechism is a written and structured teaching tool summarizing the core Christian beliefs in a question-and-answer format. Groups and denominations would give the catechism to local churches to help them know how to instruct new believers, prepare children for baptism, essential doctrines, and other traditions. The Westminster Catechism was for Reformed and Presbyterian churches.
The very first question of his catechism asks, “What is the chief end of man?” They answer: “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.” Since this statement is so powerful and profound, and it stood at the beginning of such a popular and widely used document, the phrase became extremely influential in Protestant theology and doctrine. The phrase uses a single, memorable sentence to capture humanity’s ultimate purpose. The phrase has impact beyond the Reformed traditions and became one of the most recognized lines in Christianity outside of a Bible quote.
The word “glory” refers to God’s majesty, radiance, and splendor with weight and substance. To glorify God means to live in such a way that his greatness becomes manifest in our actions, words, and desires. It doesn’t mean we add to his glory, for he is already eternally and infinitely glorious. We cannot add nor subtract anything from him. However, when we glorify him, we declare in word and deed the reality of his glory, giving it the right place and making it more visible to others. Such glorification encompasses our whole life.
In essence, glorifying God means that in an action, his greatness becomes the focus, not us.
To “enjoy him forever” emphasizes that our purpose isn’t only a duty or obligation. We are made in God’s image, to live in his joy. God created us to delight in him. Enjoying God means to take satisfaction, pleasure, and rest in intimate relationship with him, both today and for eternity. The joy we desire doesn’t come from any pursuit on this earth but in fellowship with God.
What Is the Catechism?
The Westminster Catechism stands as one of the most influential doctrinal tools in Protestant history. It comes in two versions; the Shorter Catechism and the Larger Catechism. Both are part of the Westminster Standards, which includes the Westminster Confession of Faith. Altogether, these documents shaped doctrine, theology, worship, and the local practice of Reformed and Presbyterian churches all over the world.
These catechisms emerged during the Westminster Assembly, a council of English and Scottish theologians, pastors, and leaders who met in London. The English Civil War created upheaval and chaos in society, government, and religion. British Parliament wanted the churches to have one voice, so they called the assembly to provide a more unified document of doctrine for the national church. These theologians worked for years to come up with documents to summarize biblical doctrine and give practical, traditional guidance for the Christian life. The Shorter Catechism was for children and families. The Larger included far more detail and was written for pastors and teachers.
Literacy grew in Europe, and part of the Protestant push was for people to read the Bible for themselves, in their own language. Yet the leaders felt Christians needed a guide for a basic grasp of doctrine. The question/answer model helped with memorization.
Reformed and Presbyterian churches remain committed to the Westminster Catechism as foundational, especially in doctrine and main traditions. Reformed Baptists and other minor Calvinist denominations will also use them. These catechisms were meant to be used as discipleship tools. And since the documents contain both theological depth and accessibility, they continue to provide the foundation they were written to give.
What Scripture Supports the Command to “Glorify God and Enjoy Him Forever”?
The catechism writers didn’t pull the statement from the air. They combined the themes of Scripture to capture human purpose in this statement.
First, the Bible teaches that all creation exists to glorify God, which naturally includes people made in his image. “All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name” (Psalm 86:9). Isaiah goes a step further, where God says he created Israel “for my glory.”
Paul’s words connect with this truth in a practical setting. “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). God’s redemptive story ends with the whole earth being filled with his glory: “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea” (Habakkuk 2:14).
Next, the Bible reveals enjoying God is the ultimate blessing of our salvation. “In your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11). Salvation reconciles us to right relationship with the Father, which then gives us “fullness” of joy. Jesus teaches our enjoyment as part of his purpose for teaching and sharing. “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 15:11). As we engage and receive from the Word of God, Christ, through the Spirit and the Bible, we get Jesus’ joy, an eternal gift. This Spirit within fulfills Psalm 16. With his joy, we can’t get any more.
Finally, glorifying God and enjoying him belong together. Paul commands the church in Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord always.” Rejoicing honors God properly and gives us the satisfaction we desire. The ultimate joy comes when Jesus returns. Christ spoke about his return during his ministry, as does Revelation. The Bible continuously communicates how outrageously awesome this moment will be, kicking off the “forever” reality of God dwelling with us and us with him (Revelation 21-22). He will wipe away every tear while his glory fills the new earth.
How Do We “Glorify God and Enjoy Him Forever”?
Every longing of our hearts finds real fulfillment in living for God’s glory and delighting in him. We were created for it. Our pursuit of anything else leaves us empty. Yet when we glorify God and enjoy him, we align with our purpose and experience the life we were made to live.
Glorifying God means we point to God and his goodness in our thoughts, words, actions, and desires. Jesus teaches, “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). Glorifying God begins in our hearts and minds, loving God more than anything else. From that motivation, we live in obedience, love others, speak and sing praises, and live set apart — in the world but of heaven. When we do this, people see God’s beauty and goodness through us. This requires humility, not thinking less of ourselves but of ourselves less.
This communion with God results in full and overflowing joy. Walking in his presence, aligning with him, we find “pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11). Our joy in him also glorifies him, a cycle of mutual joy and love.
“Glorify God and enjoy him forever” doesn’t mean we’ll escape trials or suffering. Instead, Jesus promises we will experience these hard things. However, Scripture teaches our joy in God strengthens us and helps us endure hard seasons. Paul endured imprisonment and persecution, but he sang in prison because his delight in God transcended the circumstance. James tells us to count it joy when we face trials. And Jesus endured the cross with the joy set before him.
When trials rage, glorifying God keeps our focus on his power and promises. We praise the eternal God in the temporary circumstance. Stepping into the Father’s gift of joy, we are also filled with real and stable hope. The joy empowers us to persevere, seeing the eternal beyond the moment. Then, our joy reveals his unchangeable glory to the world. Our trials become opportunities to worship him for what he will do, how he will deliver, and turn all things for good if we’ll love him and cling to his purpose, to glorify him (Romans 8:28).
We can’t glorify or enjoy God in our own strength. Our sin tempts us to bring attention to ourselves, glorify ourselves in rebellion, and quit when it gets difficult. Thankfully, through his life, death, and resurrection, Jesus restored what sin had broken. In him, we are forgiven, renewed inwardly, empowered by the Spirit within, and reconciled to the Father. Christ alone is the way to life with God. With the Holy Spirit, we have the desire and power to glorify God and delight in him, as the Son and the Father delight in each other. Christ is the root of our ability to be redeemed and live in our chief purpose: to glorify God and enjoy him forever.
Peace.
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