A Life that Glorifies God

For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks? Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved. (1 Corinthians 10:30-33)

Every action, every interaction, and every word we speak has the potential to glorify God or magnify the world’s system. Paul began 1 Corinthians 10:30-33 saying he was a partaker of God’s grace and that because he acknowledged it, his response was to give thanks. That’s what this word charis or grace means in this context: thanksgiving.

Everything we do should be done with thanksgiving to God. Paul’s message here should encourage us to ask ourselves: “Are our actions driven by self-gratification, or are they dedicated to magnifying the name of our Heavenly Father?”

Paul explained how to tell if we are living a life of glorying God first. He said we should give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God.

If we are really living in a way that gives God glory, our actions and reactions should be rooted and grounded in love, mercy, and grace toward others.

Living in a way that does not cause offense or stumbling blocks is not an easy road to take. We live in a world that is overly sensitive, overly critical, and constantly offended. Some say this is the age of offense. You cannot control if someone is offended or not. What you can control is your own motives, attitudes, and service toward those around you.

Paul made a major doctrinal point in these verses: God only sees three groups of people on the earth. They are Jews, Gentiles (the unsaved), and the church. To correctly understand Scripture, it’s important to know which group God is addressing.

Practical Application

Does your life, actions, and words echo glory to God? Are you living in thankfulness or complaint and worry? Think about your words and your actions today and ask yourself, “How can I glorify God in this task, this moment, this conversation?”

Colossians 3:17; 1 Peter 4:11

Balancing Liberty and Love for God

All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. (1 Corinthians 10:23)

Paul wrote 1 Corinthians 10:23 to Christians living under Roman rule. The Romans were known for accepting any and every kind of worship that was out there. In fact, Roman worship adapted to the culture by adopting and changing the Greek forms of worship by simply renaming their deities.

Some of this worship included temple prostitution. Citizens paid their temple taxes with meat; then they would “worship” by having sex in the temple. The workers in the temple would then sell the meat and others would eat it, knowing full well where it came from. Not only was that practice allowed but it was celebrated and deemed as a legitimate and honorable religious practice. Remember, these people grew up believing temple prostitution was normal. They accepted and celebrated it.

The Jewish believers, of course, believed anyone that even touched that meat was pagan or in sin. So, the question arose: is this against God’s way or was this an area of personal conviction?

Paul concluded that this wasn't merely a matter of dietary choices or personal conviction. It was a question of conscience, identity, and faith.

Paul acknowledged that even if believers can find loopholes in what is “allowed,” it doesn’t mean that what is allowed is expedient or profitable.

When it comes to our freedom in Christ, many times, the question should not be about what you can do, but it should be what is spiritually beneficial to you and others. Our actions should never lead fellow believers to sin or go against their personal convictions. We're not just living for ourselves; we are here to edify others and ultimately to give glory to God.

Practical Application

Make sure you aren’t asking yourself, “Am I allowed to do this?” Change your question to: “Will this benefit me spiritually?” and “Will this cause someone else to feel convicted or fall into sin?” We are called to live a life that glorifies God and encourages those around us to follow Him.

1 Corinthians 6:12; 1 Corinthians 8:9

Embracing the Weak

Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. (Romans 14:1-2)

The key word in this verse is receive. Paul encouraged the strong believers to embrace those who were not as strong in their faith. We should not engage in arguments or lengthy discussions on things that really don’t matter in the grand scheme of things. Instead, we should honor and embrace those who are not yet mature in their faith while encouraging them in the Word.

The first century church had Christians from many cultures and religious backgrounds. Their various backgrounds brought a diversity of beliefs into the church. including ideas about dietary practices, celebration of holidays, and worship style. With dietary requirements, some Christians believed everything was okay to eat now that they were free in Christ Jesus and not under the Law of Moses. Many of those from a Jewish background, however, felt it was wrong to eat certain things. They believed they could only eat herbs or vegetables because Jewish believers couldn't always discern the source of the meat in the market. Was it sacrificed to an idol? Was it killed in an unclean way? They were weak in faith because they still living according to Mosaic law, and not in their freedom in Christ.

However, Paul didn’t say Christians should look down on them or berate them for their lack of understanding of doctrine and faith. He said that those who were strong were called to embrace, not condemn, those who were weaker in faith or understanding.

Living a life that glorifies God and honors others doesn’t require everyone to be at the same level of spiritual maturity. It's about creating a space where everyone is encouraged to grow, to hear from the Holy Spirit and learn from God’s Word the truth of how to live our lives in faith.

Practical Application

Who can you support today? Is there someone new to faith, or weak in understanding that you can encourage to come to church this Sunday with you? Ask the Holy Spirit to put someone on your heart that you can encourage and pray for to become stronger in their faith.

1 Corinthians 9:22; 1 Corinthians 3:1