Scripture Daily

Context No. 2257 of 4322 · 1 Corinthians

Context · Reflection

1 Corinthians 10:19-33: in context

19What am I saying then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20But I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I don’t desire that you would have fellowship with demons. 21You can’t both drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You can’t both partake of the table of the Lord and of the table of demons. 22Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he? 23“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are profitable. “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things build up. 24Let no one seek his own, but each one his neighbor’s good. 25Whatever is sold in the butcher shop, eat, asking no question for the sake of conscience, 26for “the earth is the Lord’s, and its fullness.” 27But if one of those who don’t believe invites you to a meal, and you are inclined to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no questions for the sake of conscience. 28But if anyone says to you, “This was offered to idols,” don’t eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for the sake of conscience. For “the earth is the Lord’s, with all its fullness.” 29Conscience, I say, not your own, but the other’s conscience. For why is my liberty judged by another conscience? 30If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced for something I give thanks for? 31Whether therefore you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32Give no occasion for stumbling, whether to Jews, to Greeks, or to the assembly of God; 33even as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of the many, that they may be saved.

In a passage about how believers should handle disputed matters like food offered to idols, Paul rises to a principle that governs the whole of life. Whether therefore you eat or drink, or whatever you do, he says, do all to the glory of God. Even the most ordinary acts, eating and drinking, are to be done for God's glory. And he adds the aim behind it: not seeking his own good but the good of many, that they may be saved. The whole of life, its ordinary and its significant parts alike, is to be lived to the glory of God.

Paul's principle, do all to the glory of God, reaches into every corner of life. He does not confine glorifying God to religious activities, to prayer and worship and service; he extends it to the most ordinary acts, eating and drinking, and to whatever we do. All of it, the ordinary and the significant, the religious and the mundane, is to be done to the glory of God. There is no part of life too ordinary, too small, too everyday, to be done for God's glory; the whole of life is to be lived to him. This lifts the whole of our lives into significance. We can divide our lives into the sacred and the secular, thinking that only the religious parts, worship, prayer, service, are done for God, while the ordinary parts, work, meals, rest, daily activities, are just ordinary, unconnected to him. Paul's principle dissolves this division: whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Even eating and drinking, the most ordinary of acts, can be done to God's glory; and so can all the rest of the ordinary business of life. Whatever you do, Paul says elsewhere, in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus. The whole of life is meant to be an offering to God's glory. This changes how we regard our ordinary activities. Our work, our meals, our rest, our daily tasks, are not disconnected from God, mere secular business separate from our life with him; they can all be done to his glory, offered to him, made part of our worship. To do all to the glory of God is to live the whole of life consciously for him, seeking in everything, even the ordinary, to honor and please him. This means that no part of our lives is exempt from this aim, and none is too ordinary to be included in it. This calls us to do all to the glory of God, dissolving the division between the sacred and the secular in our lives. Whether we eat or drink, work or rest, do the significant or the ordinary, all is to be done to God's glory, lived consciously for him, offered to him. Paul's principle takes the whole of life, its most ordinary acts included, and directs it to the glory of God; and we are called to live all of life to him, so that even eating and drinking, and whatever else we do, becomes an offering to the glory of God, and no part of our lives is left outside the aim of honoring him.

Do I divide my life into the sacred and the secular, thinking only the religious parts are done for God while my ordinary work, meals, rest, and daily tasks are just ordinary and unconnected to him, and can Paul's principle, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God, move me to dissolve that division and live the whole of my life consciously for God, offering even my most ordinary acts to his glory, so that no part of my life is left outside the aim of honoring him?

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