“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
(1 Corinthians 10:31, NIV84)
(1 Corinthians 10:31, NIV84)
In a discussion of how to live faithfully, the Apostle Paul explored in 1 Corinthians 10 how to do God's will. He attempted to teach the Corinthian Church how to best follow God’s will in making choices in life. Near the end of the discussion, Paul wrote the scripture above. He intended these words to help guide Christians when scripture is not specific about how to follow God. Paul wrote that “whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God….”(1 Corinthians 10:31). With these words, Paul was hoping that when making decisions, the faithful in Corinth would decide each case by seeking first and foremost to do God’s will. If the choices you make are for God’s glory first, then whatever you do will most likely be right in the eyes of God. There are exceptions to this rule, but for the most part these words are helpful in determining right from wrong in your life.
Many years ago, Mary came to me seeking advice. She was haunted by something she did in her past and asked what she might do to work through it. When in her teens, Mary stole several hundred dollars from her grandmother over a few months. She knew if she stole it over a longer period, her grandmother might not notice. Mary was correct. She used the money to buy herself some new clothes and a prom dress. Ten years later, Mary was born again. She dedicated herself to God and was re-baptized in a Baptist Church. However, as she prayed, she felt God wanting her to atone for a few sins from her past. The one biggest thing holding her back from feeling right with God was the money she stole from her grandmother. Her grandmother had died a few years before her spiritual awakening. How could she make things right? She couldn’t just go to her grandmother and confess and pay back the money! Both grandparents were deceased. What was she to do?
There is no straightforward scripture in the Bible that tells how to make this sin right before God. However, Mary couldn’t just ignore what God was telling her to do. After some soul-searching, she came to see me. Over a month, we worked out a plan. Using the scripture above, we figured that Mary needed to atone for her sin with her grandmother by not simply confessing the sin. God wanted her to go one more step to make things right. After some prayer and a period of repentance, Mary and I found what she could do “for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). Mary's grandmother often gave to a mission overseas. That mission cared for orphaned children. Mary decided to send a check to that mission for the exact amount of money she stole. In so doing, she felt that her repayment to her grandmother would go where God needed it most. Throughout this whole endeavor, Mary repented of her sin, confessed her sin to me, and repaid what she had stolen from her grandmother. Mary wasn’t being legalistic about her repentance. She just needed to make things right. And she did. Over the following weeks and months, I could tell that the weight of her past sin had ceased entirely. By making everything right “for the glory of God,” Mary found healing from her past mistake.
I am not suggesting by this true story that you should be legalistic in making things right or that you can pay back some money and be forgiven for you sins! No way! I’m just saying that when you come to a situation in your life where the right direction is unclear, sometimes it helps most just to do whatever will bring God the glory. Don’t make things right by ignoring your responsibilities. Don’t choose the path of least resistance. Don’t become legalistic in your spiritual endeavors. Do all for the glory of God!
When you worship, do you do it for God’s glory? When you celebrate Christmas, does God benefit most? Throughout your life, doing what is best for the glory of God may not always benefit you right away. The results might come later. You might not even see them until you face God on Judgment Day. Still, making choices for the glory of God holds great promise.
What can you do today for the glory of God? Is there something God wants done in your life for HIS benefit? How might God be blessed today by your work? Think on it.
Many years ago, Mary came to me seeking advice. She was haunted by something she did in her past and asked what she might do to work through it. When in her teens, Mary stole several hundred dollars from her grandmother over a few months. She knew if she stole it over a longer period, her grandmother might not notice. Mary was correct. She used the money to buy herself some new clothes and a prom dress. Ten years later, Mary was born again. She dedicated herself to God and was re-baptized in a Baptist Church. However, as she prayed, she felt God wanting her to atone for a few sins from her past. The one biggest thing holding her back from feeling right with God was the money she stole from her grandmother. Her grandmother had died a few years before her spiritual awakening. How could she make things right? She couldn’t just go to her grandmother and confess and pay back the money! Both grandparents were deceased. What was she to do?
There is no straightforward scripture in the Bible that tells how to make this sin right before God. However, Mary couldn’t just ignore what God was telling her to do. After some soul-searching, she came to see me. Over a month, we worked out a plan. Using the scripture above, we figured that Mary needed to atone for her sin with her grandmother by not simply confessing the sin. God wanted her to go one more step to make things right. After some prayer and a period of repentance, Mary and I found what she could do “for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). Mary's grandmother often gave to a mission overseas. That mission cared for orphaned children. Mary decided to send a check to that mission for the exact amount of money she stole. In so doing, she felt that her repayment to her grandmother would go where God needed it most. Throughout this whole endeavor, Mary repented of her sin, confessed her sin to me, and repaid what she had stolen from her grandmother. Mary wasn’t being legalistic about her repentance. She just needed to make things right. And she did. Over the following weeks and months, I could tell that the weight of her past sin had ceased entirely. By making everything right “for the glory of God,” Mary found healing from her past mistake.
I am not suggesting by this true story that you should be legalistic in making things right or that you can pay back some money and be forgiven for you sins! No way! I’m just saying that when you come to a situation in your life where the right direction is unclear, sometimes it helps most just to do whatever will bring God the glory. Don’t make things right by ignoring your responsibilities. Don’t choose the path of least resistance. Don’t become legalistic in your spiritual endeavors. Do all for the glory of God!
When you worship, do you do it for God’s glory? When you celebrate Christmas, does God benefit most? Throughout your life, doing what is best for the glory of God may not always benefit you right away. The results might come later. You might not even see them until you face God on Judgment Day. Still, making choices for the glory of God holds great promise.
What can you do today for the glory of God? Is there something God wants done in your life for HIS benefit? How might God be blessed today by your work? Think on it.