Living to God's Glory

There is much talk about living to the glory of God these days. That is a good thing, but I wonder if we really understand what it means. It certainly may resonate in our hearts that we want to live to God's glory, but what does that look like? It is an important question which I believe the apostle Paul answers, at least in part, in 1 Corinthians 10.

Starting in veres 23 and following Paul speaks of what we eat and drink. He declares that since there is no such thing as an idol that we are able to eat and drink things that might have been offered to idols. If indeed there is no such thing as an idol (because, of course, there is only one true God - all other deities are false) what we are eating was in truth offered to something that doesn't really exist,......I think you get the point.

Paul also mentions that we can eat and drink anything because the "earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof." God owns it all and he has given it to His creatures to enjoy sanctifiying it through the Word and prayer.

Though there is a great deal of freedom here, Paul offers a decisive limitation. Though we are free to eat and drink - though as Christians we have tremendous freedom, we are not to be ruled by that freedom. Instead we are to have a higher purpose and that purpose is to do all things that will promote the good of my neighbor.

Thus, I am free to eat and drink anything, but if my eating and drinking causes a brother to stumble and drift from Christ, then my eating and drinking is wrong. I should in love limit my eating and drinking because I consider my brothers soul so much more important than my personal freedoms.

This loving behavior Paul ties to living "to the glory of God." In verses 31-33 Paul says, "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense to Jews or Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved." Clearly in these verses Paul ties living to God's glory to acting in such a way to promote the advantage of my brother.

Actually when you think of it, this makes perfect sense. To live to the glory of God is to live in such a way that you reflect the character of God. And what is more like the character of God than laying down your rights / freedoms to promote the advantage of others.

This is what Christ did. His life is the most potent example of a life lived to the advantage of others. He not only laid down freedoms but Himself took on the form of a bondslave and gave His life to the cross. He did this to secure our good - our advantage - our salavtion.

Now when we reflect this in our lives - considering first the advantage of others - we do indeed live to the glory of God.

Don't miss this connection. It is a very prominent one in the Scriptures. Living to the glory of God is tied to living in a self-sacrificing way, desiring to promote the good of those around me.

May the Lord, grant us all grace, to live to His glory in this way, today and every day.