Is God’s Ultimate End His Own Glory, or Love?

When God acts, why does he act as he does? What are his motivations? Is there one overriding motivator internal to his own character that guides every sovereign choice he makes? The scriptures are clear that “God does all that he pleases" (Psalm 115:3, for example), but what exactly is it that most pleases him?

Now, the title of this post might correctly be identified as a false dichotomy. It isn’t necessarily the case that God is either primarily all about his own glory or love. He could have some other ultimate end for all of his actions. However, in the history of the church, and certainly in evangelicalism today, these are the two main claims that have been made. Some claim that since God is love (1 John 4:8), then everything God does must flow out of that. Others have argued that since all of creation is from God and through God and for God (Romans 11:36), then God does what he does primarily for his own glory. So which one (if either), is it? Let’s consider:

Supreme, Ultimate, and Subordinate Ends

Before looking at these two options, it would first be helpful to consider some rather precise definitions that will assist us as we discuss the highest motivations of God in Scripture. In writing A Dissertation Concerning the End for Which God Created the World, Jonathan Edwards developed three main categories for motivators, or “ends” for which we do things (You can find a pdf of Edward’s paper here). First, there are subordinate ends. These are ends which serve a greater end, which Edwards calls an ultimate end. Ultimate ends are ends that are loved for their own sake. Subordinate ends are not loved for their own sake. For example, one might dig a hole to plant a tree. The digging of the hole is a subordinate end to the ultimate end of planting a tree. The planting of the tree is the good that is loved for its own sake, not the digging of the hole. My five year old might have dug a hole just because digging a hole is fun. In that case, digging a hole would be an ultimate end. So what constitutes subordinate and ultimate ends depends on the person and their own desires.

Subordinate ends can also exist in a hierarchy. For example, we take on employment as a subordinate end to make money, which is in turn a subordinate end to paying rent or buying food, which is a subordinate end to survival, which is an ultimate end (for most people). But ultimate ends can also double up as subordinate ends. One might enjoy their job of building homes. They might genuinely love the process and labor that goes into building a house. Thus, it is an ultimate end. However, they also need to get paid for their labor to support their family. Therefore, the ultimate end of building a house becomes a subordinate end to supporting their family.

If there is one and only one thing that is the ultimate end for everything they do, that is their supreme or chief end. A supreme end can never function as a subordinate end to anything else. It is the final word on everything one does. If an action cannot help one achieve their supreme end, they will not choose to partake in that action.

Is God’s Supreme End Love?

So, is God’s supreme end love? We know from 1 John 4:8 that God is love. We know that love is a motivator for God. We know that for eternity past the Father has loved the Son and the Son has loved the Father (John 17:23-24) and could not have done otherwise. Moreover, we are repeatedly reminded in Scripture that God love’s his people (Israel in the New Testament and believers in the New Testament). We’re even told that Christ came because God’s love wasn’t just limited to Israel, but the entire world (John 3:16). Love is certainly central to who God is and why God acts as he does.

But is love God’s supreme end?

What would constitute a counterexample?

To find a counterexample, we would need to see at least one choice or action that runs contrary to God showing supreme love, or his love being thwarted by some other, stronger desire that pleases him more.

As it turns out, Scripture has several such examples.

The Psalms are clear that, while God loves his people, he hates the wicked and the evildoer (Psalm 5:5, 11:5). God’s love was also bestowed upon Jacob, but not Esau (Malachi 1:2-3, Romans 9:13). God certainly did not raise up Pharaoh because he loved Pharaoh (Romans 9:17). Furthermore, while it is true that God in some sense desires to save all people (1 Timothy 2:4) and does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked (Ezekiel 33:11), many are still lost and still die. If God is sovereign (and he is), then this must mean that there is something God desires more. Whatever that is, it’s a good candidate to be God’s supreme end.

God’s Own Glory as His Supreme End

God’s handling of Pharaoh gives us our first concrete answer. In Romans 9, we read “For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, ‘For this very purpose I have raided you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth’” (Romans 9:17). We would do well to remember what historical role Pharaoh played in God’s plan. He had enslaved God’s beloved people, who were in slavery for 400 years. He mistreated God’s people. God was not powerless to stop this abuse. He sovereignly allowed it. God then raised up Pharaoh and hardened his heart to such a degree that Pharaoh wouldn’t consider letting the Hebrews go even after awful plagues. God then sent death to every first born male in Egypt, and only then did Pharaoh let God’s people go. But that was only momentary. Pharaoh then pursued the Hebrews into the Red Sea, where he and his army was righteously destroyed by God. Why did God do this?

That he might show his power, and that his name might be proclaimed in all the earth.

God was (and is) out for his glory!

Further demonstration of this is found throughout the Scriptures. “For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another” (Isaiah 48:11). “They shall possess the land forever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I might be glorified” (Isaiah 60:21). “Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth, everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory” (Isaiah 43:7). “He predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace” (Ephesians 1:5-6). “All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them” (John 17:10). “And every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:11). “Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name” (1 Chronicles 16:29, See also Psalm 29:1-2; 57:5; 72:18-19; 96:7-8; 115:1). Finally and profoundly, in Psalm 115:1 we read “Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory”

I would encourage anyone to read Scripture for themselves with a mind’s eye toward God’s jealousy for his own glory. It is hard to miss all throughout the BIble. We even know that the death of the wicked and the lostness of some is necessary in order to maximize the glory of our Father in Heaven (See Romans 9:22-23, for example).

But Isn’t Self-Glorification Wrong?

Some will undoubtedly complain that God doing all things chiefly for his own glory is selfish and therefore wrong. Such a complaint would undoubtedly be true for anyone other than God himself. The truth of the matter is that every action God (or any other mindful creature) makes glorifies someone or some thing. When we attend a football game, we glorify the players on the field as we cheer for them. When we lounge on the couch and binge Netflix, we glorify ourselves through out own entertainment. God is no different. In everything God does, he must glorify someone or some thing.

Furthermore, there is a moral hierarchy of those that deserve glory. A potato deserves less glory that a dog, and the dog deserves less glory than a child. Put those three things in a house and set it on fire and most everyone would know which one to save first, second and third. This is true for persons as well. When we dishonor a sibling as a child, it is different than if we were to dishonor our parents. There are different consequences if you punch your neighbor and if you punch the president. One of due more honor and glory. And, of course, God is at the top of the hierarchy. Therefore, to the extent that one’s actions don’t glorify the one most deserving of glory, they are wrong.

Since God is morally perfect, and since each of his actions necessarily bring glory to someone or some thing, all of God’s actions must necessarily bring himself glory! Any other alternative would make him less than morally perfect. The Scriptures cited above make this clear as well. He cannot and will not give his glory to another (Isaiah 48:11).

Conclusion

WIth these Scriptures and arguments under our belt, then, we are compelled to recognize that God does all that he does with his own glory as his Supreme and Chief end. Does God act in love? Indeed! He does so frequently, and this is a good in and of itself. It is an ultimate end. But, it is also a subordinate end to his chief end, which is his own Glory. All of God’s attributes, when exhibited, bring God glory, and love is one of those attributes. Therefore, we would be correct in saying that love is one of God’s ultimate ends. But we are also compelled to say that God’s own glory is his highest ultimate and supreme end for all that he does.