Luther likens the plight of the theologian of glory to that of an obsessive lover or a miser. In our day the drug addict or alcoholic would be the closest parallel. The desire, the thirst for glory or wisdom or power or money, is never satisfied by the acquisition of what is desired. The more we get, the more we want. There is never real satisfaction, never the confidence that we have or have done enough. “How much money does it take to make one happy?” “Just a little more!” As sinners we are like addicts – addicted to ourselves and our own projects.

Gerhard O. Forde, On Being a Theologian of the Cross