8/21/18 | For the Glory of God

So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31 NLT

For the past few weeks, Luke and I have been meeting weekly with a mentor couple from church. The above verse was one that they challenged us to memorize and apply to our lives. It’s short and sweet, so it had that going for it, but I was having a really hard time applying it. What does for the glory of God mean? It sounds nice. It sounds like something I should focus on. But what does it mean to give God glory?

I prayed about this for a couple days, and honestly it was frustrating. It felt like someone was telling me to “deadhead the lillies”. I’m on board! If it’s something I need to do I’ll do it! But I have no idea what “deadhead the lillies” means, and until I do, the phrase will mean nothing to me. It’s like someone giving you a band saw and telling you to make a heart. But you’ll never be able to make a heart if no one tells you what a band saw is or how to use it.

I told Luke about my frustration in hopes that God would give him some insight. He prayed about it and read through the entire chapter of 1st Corinthians 10, and God did indeed give him insight. It means to consider God in every situation, and do what brings honor to his name.

This sums it up well:

²⁷ If someone who isn’t a believer asks you home for dinner, accept the invitation if you want to. Eat whatever is offered to you without raising questions of conscience.²⁸ (But suppose someone tells you, “This meat was offered to an idol.” Don’t eat it, out of consideration for the conscience of the one who told you.²⁹ It might not be a matter of conscience for you, but it is for the other person.) For why should my freedom be limited by what someone else thinks?³⁰ If I can thank God for the food and enjoy it, why should I be condemned for eating it?
1 Corinthians 10:27-30 NLT

Spending time on this chapter has shown me that we really need to take into consideration how our actions affect others. There are situations that go beyond never do this and always do that, just like in the passage above. We just need to make sure that, in all things, we are pointing others to Christ and encouraging them in their faith. This is all the more reason to study the Bible and always be listening to the Holy Spirit, so that in every situation we are ready to do what brings glory to God.

The more time we spend in the Word, the more we’ll be equipped, ready, and able to do the work he sets before you. Spend time in 1 Corinthians 10 this week, and as things come up, ask this question: Will how I’m planning to act bring glory to God?