Week 16: May 22-28
Do all to the glory of God
I Corinthians 10:31
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
You may or may not be familiar with this passage, but you have almost certainly heard the phrase, “Do all to the glory of God.” What does that really mean? How can we understand God’s glory and how can we live it practically in our daily lives?
First, living for the glory of God is a change in the way we think as Christians. The moment we are born everything we do is for “OUR” glory. When we become a Christian the gospel changes us to how God intended us to be, created for His glory! Everything we do should point to Him. It is a spiritual change of heart. Second, to do all to the glory of God is a command. We must take this into account in our daily life. This is not just a nice-sounding phrase but a directive we should take to heart.
So how do we glorify God practically? Eat, drink, do in thankfulness to God. First, thank God for all of life because he is in control of it and has provided it.
1 Timothy 4:4-5
4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.
When we receive what God has given with thanksgiving, word, and prayer, we do this to His glory. It is hard to do something that God disproves of when we pray for it, thank Him for it, and consult the Word.
We see in II Corinthians 10:32-33 that Paul gives a second way to eat, drink, do to God’s glory. Paul acts for the sake of others that they might be saved. He is living his life with an eye on others! Phil 2:3, “counting others more significant than himself.” Paul is considering other in his daily choices and actions. He is doing this with the ultimate goal of seeing people saved! This is submitting to God’s mandate to spread the Gospel.
Ultimately, living for God’s glory starts with a change of heart and mindset through salvation. It is bringing all of my life “into” God’s story. Many see life as what I am doing and what God is doing. That is our sinful flesh still wanting it’s own way. That is wrong. We should live a life where God is sovereign, God created all things, all life is subject to God, and God controls all. This should cause us to give thanks and praise for all we eat, drink, and do.
Pray Together
- Pray that God helps you change your thinking to live life to God’s glory and not your own.
- Pray that God will create an opportunity for a Gospel conversation this week.
- Pray that God will develop in you a heart of prayer and dependence on Him.