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1 Corinthians 10:31 (ESV)
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
When we think of doing “all to the glory of God,” as in 1 Corinthians 10:31, there may be a tendency to assume that what brings God glory are the things like going to church or perhaps serving at church. And while God can indeed be glorified when we do these things, we must know that our normal everyday things and experiences of life – such as eating and drinking – are all ways in which we can glorify God.
Every aspect of our lives presents an opportunity to give God glory. This means that the thoughts we ponder, the choices we make, the plans we pursue, the desires of our heart, just to name a few, can all be rooted in the goal of God being glorified.
Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV) states: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
When life is good, it is easy to act in ways that glorify God. But what about the days when we face challenges? For example, how should we respond when someone is impatient or disrespectful to us? Do we return impatience for impatience or disrespect for disrespect? Not at all.
When faced with impatience and disrespect from others, we glorify God when we respond in ways that show we have been transformed by the love of God. While we have the freedom to respond whatever way we choose, because of our love for God and submission to His authority in our lives, we choose to respond with patience, or any other fruit of the Spirit, as in Galatians 5:22-23.
When others see us, time and again, responding to and overcoming life’s challenges this way, it opens the door for them to want to do the same. It opens the door for unbelievers to surrender to Jesus and come to know the love of God. And it opens the door for believers to be strengthened in their walk with the Lord. In this, God is glorified.
As believers, we must know that regardless of what we are doing, we must do all to the glory of God.
Psalm 57:5 (ESV) states: Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth!
Except where indicated, scripture references are from the American Standard Version (ASV), Darby Translation (DARBY), or King James Version (KJV) – all public domains.
