Do ALL for the glory of God – 1 Corinthians 10.31-11.1

Good Morning! 

Can we ‘twalk’? (‘hear my Joan Rivers’ accent?)  I mean, really, can we just talk a minute?  If we could pull up a lounge chair around a fire pit, I would love to have the opportunity to have some easy conversation with you on a meaningful subject.  May I take you back into my past?  It has been many years since I learned to play my first Bach minuet on the piano.  First the right hand, then the left, then the two together, measure-by-measure.  I never noticed the J.J. at the top of the musical score, or the S.D.G. at its conclusion.  J.J.?  Yes, Jesus Juva or Jesus, help me; and at the end, Soli deo Gloria, to God be the glory.  Bach said, “All music should have no other end and aim than the glory of God and the soul’s refreshment; where this is not remembered, there is no real music but only a devilish hub-bub.”

Soli deo Gloria . . . to God be the glory.  Oh, how I love that!

Today’s passage: “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.   Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.  Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” 1 Cor. 10.31-11.1

Paul has led us through a discussion of disciplining ourselves for the purpose of godliness; we’ve looked at temptation, and personal freedom vs. the consideration of another’s weakness, but here is the crowning principle of this chapter—actually, of Paul’s writing in total: whether you eat or drink or

 whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.  

The word glory speaks of something or someone who is worthy of praise or exaltation.??When we give glory to God, we acknowledge him as the one who is worthy of praise and exaltation. ??Scripture puts words to the melody in our hearts as we think about our great God.  The Bible is so much more than just a self-help book, though many people stop short at that; it is full of beautiful, sacred expressions for our Creator.  From David’s lips flowed rapturous expression,

Give unto the Lord, O you mighty ones,  Give unto the Lord glory and strength. Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name;  Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. from Psalm 29

Our Lord deserves glory, He desires glory, and the Psalmist declares, He is due glory.??We give God glory both with our lips and our life. ?We give glory with our lives when we serve others selflessly, especially when no one is looking.  We give glory when we deny ourselves in favor of someone else.  We give glory when we live our lives in such a way that brings honor to God’s name.  Sometimes, that is in very menial ways . . . repetitive ways that might seem meaningless at the time, but are very meaningful as our Lord looks on.  After all, it was he who said, ‘when you did it for the least of these, my brothers, you did it for me.’ 

And then, friends, we ought give glory with our lips as well.  Our Lord delights in our praises.  Do you stop each day and give him glory?   ‘You know, ‘thank him for a new day?  ‘Thank him for salvation, and the gift of grace, ‘thank him for mercy though we deserve judgment?  Oh, how he loves us . . . oh, how he loves you and me!

There is so much more to be thought, so much more to be said about living our lives to the glory of God. . . but I was thinking about the beginning of the Westminster Catechism, written in the 1600s, and how beautiful, how appropriate it is . . .

“Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.”

Is there a reciprocal law that applies here?  We enjoy God when we glorify him, or we will not be able to enjoy him until we glorify him, or indeed, we are here to glorify God . . . and a distant second is then enjoying him forever.  Whichever, there is no doubt that glorifying God is inextricably linked with enjoying him.  Ah, that is good.

Are you a swimmer?  Do all to the glory of God.  Are you a mother of young children?  Do all to the glory of God.  Are you a businessperson by day, a father of young children by night?  Do all to glory of God.  

Whatever your station, whatever your season . . . do all to the glory of God!

Christine