Christ spoke these words to those Jews who accused Him of being an imposter, and His argument against their charge is very powerful indeed. He shows that He sought the glory of the One who sent Him rather than seeking His own glory. This would not be characteristic of an imposter. The same is true of ordinary ministers. Those who are true servants of Christ will seek to honor and promote His name rather than their own. If a man seeks his own recognition and advancement we may certainly conclude that he is not called of God. We may be sure that both his desire to preach and the message he brings is "of himself" in the sense that God has not given it to him. 

    The apostle Paul said, "We preach not ourselves" (II Cor. 4:5). That is, true ministers of the gospel do not have themselves as the subject of their preaching, but rather "Christ Jesus the Lord." And they are faithful to show their hearers that they are no more than servants "for Jesus' sake." They are careful to promote the glory of Christ and not to seek any glory for themselves. Like the apostle Peter, they would have their hearers to fully understand that they also are but men (See Acts 10:26). They would not in any sense knowingly promote idolatry but rather would strongly encourage men to "turn to God from idols to serve the living and true God" (I Thess. 1:9). 

    The preaching of the true servants of God is not calculated merely to please men, and thus to promote their own standing and popularity, but their purpose is to please God by preaching that which He bids them preach (See Jonah 3:2). If men are pleased with the preaching of the truth, that is well and good, but the servants of Christ are to preach the truth whether it is pleasing to men or not. Paul did not seek to please men for he knew that if he did so he would not be the servant of Christ (See Gal. 1:10). 

    It has always been, and always will be the hallmark of the true servants of Christ that their greatest pleasure and highest ambition is to seek the glory of the One who sent them. "Ye shall know them by their fruits" (Matt. 7:16).